I first met her in autumn, Ruby Rose… Heh, at first, I didn't think much of her. I thought that she was nothing new, just another person who wanted to be a Hunter. I don't know what caused our paths to cross that day, but what she did…
…
The unpredictable wind blew silently through the forest, taking the golden leaves of autumn to wherever it wanted to. Naruto looked at the Grimm before him, looking curiously at him.
Naruto was impassive to the creature before him, just looking at it as it slowly moved towards him.
"Can you talk?" he asked.
He wanted to know if he could communicate with it. He needed to know, if there was a reason that he met the Grimm before him. A Grimm that was strangely not antagonistic to his presence. A Grimm that moved cautiously towards him, like he was a predator. This was unlike the vicious creatures he knew back home.
He smiled mirthlessly. Could he still call it… his home? They all wanted him dead.
"Can you even hear me?"
Naruto observed the Grimm, and for some reason, he empathized with it, for some reason he could tell that the creature right before him felt lost.
Naruto then lifted his palm, letting it face the Grimm. The Grimm stopped at the motion, cautious at the human before it. Its head tilted slowly to the side, trying to access the situation. Naruto followed its gaze, never letting it out of his sight.
This was the first Grimm he had encountered as soon as he landed in Vale. And so far, it showed no desire to eat him.
A slow growl emerged from its throat, as Naruto took a step forward; his palm still facing him.
"Do you know what you are?" he whispered, the Grimm looking stunned towards him.
The Grimm let out a sound that caused Naruto to let a ghostly smile over his face.
"I too… do not know what I am?" said Naruto, to the unmoving Grimm as it stared forward to Naruto. It seemed like it was studying him, trying to make sense of what he was saying.
"Come to me." Naruto said, his voice almost taking a hypnotic tone. His eyes began to shimmer as the Grimm's body stilled, and it began to move.
"Hey! Run!"
Naruto blinked in surprise at the voice that interrupted the moment. The Grimm, before it could realize what was happening, let out a screech as a shot went through its shoulder. Naruto blinked in surprise and turned around to see Ruby looking fiercely towards the creature with her Crescent Rose aimed at it.
Help… me…
She let loose another shot, the projectile going through the Grimm's head. Naruto turned and looked to the Grimm, his eyes slowly widening at what he heard.
H…Help… us…
Naruto looked stunned at the dissipating remains of the Grimm. Did it… just speak.
To you, it did.
Why?
It finally found someone that could hear it. Someone that could listen to its cries, someone… that could understand its pain.
Just what are you creatures?
Change.
Naruto noted the dissipating fragments of the Grimm's remains.
It called out to me, it was going to… talk to me.
And you didn't because?
She killed it.
She's discovered us. What will you do now?
Kill her?
I wasn't asking you for a question.
Naruto looked doubtful. But… she's not-
Did you see the way she fought? She isn't harmless, if she finds out about who you are, she'd try to kill you. We don't need that; no one, can accept us.
Naruto's eyes slowly ran cold as he became silent for a while, contemplating on what he should do. I'll kill her then.
And a kunai slid from his wrist.
"Hey." Ruby was seen before him giving a light slap to the side of his face to bring him out of the shock she assumed he was under, and at that moment, as he saw her eyes glow white, a cold feeling spread through his body.
What the- That's impossible!
What is?
But there was no response this time. Naruto searched through the farthest reaches of his mind, for that voice, the voice that had always guided him. The voice that was slowly teaching him how to survive. The voice… that he depended upon to survive.
Kurama… Where are you? Answer me.
His eyes widened at the implications, looking to the fading white light from the girl's eyes before him. It was then he noticed her features.
She blinked in confusion, looking jaded for a bit, but it was only for a moment. She looked to him with a puzzled expression, like she didn't know what she did to him.
It was then he began to feel it.
Loneliness…
It had been a short time since he felt it. That moment in the prison, the moment when Kurama took heed. He was broken, and he didn't have anything to go on.
He was at his lowest, and then Kurama came to him, and then he wasn't alone.
That empty feeling that he always detested, scared him, and this girl was able to take his world apart in one go, and she didn't even seem bothered.
In that moment, he was scared. He didn't know what to do, he didn't know what exactly he was doing at that moment in time.
A time that felt, had stopped.
In that moment, he couldn't believe that…
"It's… I…t's gone."
She blinked at him. Did she think he was insane?
"Huh?"
"It's gone."
He looked at her before him, and wondered who she was. Just in that moment, what had almost consumed him, was gone. Was it complete, or partial? Was Kurama thrown to the deep recesses of his mind? Could Kurama come back?
She still looked to him. "W…What's wrong?"
How could she not know, how could she just look so aloof at what she had done? Didn't she know? That now…
"Kurama's… gone."
…
A MOMENT OF LIGHT
"Who's Kurama?" Ruby tilted her head to the side, she didn't see anyone since when she came. Who was the Kurama he kept referring to? Naruto just shook his head, trying to compose himself. Kurama wouldn't want him to feel so jaded.
"Who are you?" he asked, his eyes full of curiosity.
Ruby smiled at the question. Finally, something she could answer. "I'm Ruby. You?"
"N…" he hesitated for a moment, before he replied. "I'm Naruto."
"Pleased to meet you!"
Ruby spoke while laughing nervously. She cursed herself for displaying that, a trait that in a way made it difficult to make friends. If it bothered Naruto, he didn't show it.
"Yeah."
"So," Ruby began, looking back to where the Grimm had died. "That Grimm huh."
"You killed it."
"Killed?" Ruby blinked before realizing that she was probably talking to a civilian. "Well, if you put it that way, but that's not it."
"What do you mean?"
"They are not really alive, you know." Ruby elaborated. "I don't know, but they are evil; I guess that's why they evaporate after I defeated it."
Naruto looked to her, wanting to listen to her thoughts. "Do you really think that they aren't alive?"
Ruby nodded, sheathing her weapon. "Yup, Uncle Qrow said that they were creatures who wanted nothing more than to kill and eat us I guess."
Naruto observed her and closed his eyes. He let out a sigh, letting an amused smirk grace his face. "That's funny."
Ruby looked to him. "What is?"
He looked to her once again. "That word, eat. You said they wanted nothing more than to eat us."
"Yea, didn't you see what it wanted to do to you?" Ruby pointed out the earlier situation in an attempt to buttress her point.
"Did you?" She looked confused at the question. He walked past her till he was right above where it had died. He bent down and placed his right palm on the leaf covered ground, closing his eyes. "Did you really see… what was happening?"
Ruby was bewildered at the way he was speaking to her. Like what she did wasn't necessary. "It wanted to kill you and I saved you, why are you being-"
"Another problem with that statement." Naruto shifted his head in the negative before standing up. "It wasn't."
Ruby blinked. "What?"
"It wasn't going to attack me." Naruto shifted his gaze to her eyes. "It never was; it was in pain, and you killed it."
"Are you okay?" Ruby asked, completely stunned by the change of events. "You aren't… You don't think…" She then looked slightly suspicious, noting the way he was acting. The conversation was not really what she was expecting. It was like he was actually in support of the Grimm. She took a step back, reaching slowly to her back. "Who are you?"
"When I first came ashore," Naruto ignored her, staring to the morning sun. "I could immediately feel it; the change in energy."
The fifteen year old girl looked to him. "Who are you?"
Naruto looked to her, noting her stance, and he remembered Kurama's words.
Did you see the way she fought? She isn't harmless, if she finds out about who you are, she'd try to kill you. We don't need that; no one, can accept us.
"It's funny…" Naruto let out a mirthful smirk. "No matter how much I try to ignore him. He's always right. I guess, that's why I keep doing it."
Even killing… them.
Ruby looked nervous, beginning to regret coming here. Where was her Uncle when she needed him? "Who is this Kurama?"
"Remember when you said, it was going to kill me." Loud stamps on the earth began to emerge from the back of the cave, and Ruby looked startled as a large Grimm emerged into the clearing, walking slowly towards them.
Just how many of them are here?!
She began to take aim ready to fire only for Naruto to place his hand on her weapon and push it down.
She looked to him in shock. "What are you doing?!"
"I want you to look at them." Naruto said, looking into her confused and frightened eyes.
It was getting close, and it was going to eat them.
She protested, as the Grimm came even closer. "You don't understand!" She began to panic.
"What exactly?" Naruto asked in curiosity and that started to freak her out. This guy… he was dangerous.
Even though she had killed one, she still wasn't used to it, and one being closer to her did more harm than good to her psyche. "It'll kill us?!"
"And why do you think that?"
"Because they are monsters!" Ruby shouted out in anger and quickly removed her Crescent Rose from his grip and prepared to fire.
Just as her fingers were about to pull the trigger, she stopped, shocked that Naruto had stepped in between her and the Grimm. His faced directly on the nozzle of her weapon.
It was insane to Ruby, and the way he looked to her, it was impassive, like the current situation didn't bother him.
Just who was he?
"What are you doing?!"
"Showing you the truth." Naruto spoke simply. "If you still believe that they are monsters, pull the trigger right now."
"Are you crazy?" Ruby looked to him in total bewilderment. Just what was happening?
Naruto just replied. "Am I?"
"W…Who are you?"
"That's the third time you've asked me that question today."
"And you've said nothing!"
"How do you feel right now?" Naruto asked a frantic Ruby who was staring into his eyes, which seemed calmer than what she saw when she touched his cheek.
"What are you talking about?"
"Look behind me." The blond haired individual calmly said.
Ruby's startled gaze moved past him till it was now resting on the Grimm who was right behind Naruto. Her eyes was rooted at the creature up close, observing its every movement.
"What do you see?" Naruto asked.
"I…It's staring at me."
"And why do you think that?" Naruto asked silently. "Do you think…" Naruto's hand slowly reached for the High Caliber Sniper and slowly lowered it. "…it's because it can feel your fear?"
Ruby's eyes widened on its last words. "Or your awe?"
Naruto smiled at the reaction she had on her face. "Things do not seem so black and white anymore… do they?"
Ruby looked to him. "But… they kill people."
"Because people started to kill them first."
Ruby looked to the Grimm's direction, as Naruto whispered to her, the creature behind him. "They had no choice but to adapt, and since they were used to the negative feelings towards them, they responded in kind. Fear, Anger, Hate? It knows that. It's drawn to that. But Love, no, it's never experienced that. Happiness, Peace…? It's never experienced it."
Ruby looked stunned to him. "What are they?"
"Lost creatures." Naruto smiled and turned to look at the Grimm. He moved forward to the being that towered over them, yet he didn't flinch, or falter to Ruby's awe. He placed his palm towards it looking into the Grimm's glowing eyes.
Ruby's eyes widened further as slowly, the Grimm began to move its paw towards Naruto's.
They met and Naruto let out a smile at the creature. I feel… His eyes looked stunned. …your pain.
The creature looked to him and Naruto was stunned again as he heard its voice also.
I… feel yours… too...
A smile emerged all over his face as he nodded. He looked behind him to see Ruby Rose and gestured to her.
"I want you to meet someone."
Ruby began to unconsciously step forward towards a creature that she had heard countless of scary stories about. If someone was to name the top ten outrageous things that was going to happen in her life, touching a Grimm was not one of them, but here she was, about to touch one, and it wasn't frightening, it was thrilling.
Just like Naruto, she lifted up her palm to it and the Grimm reciprocated her action and her eyes slightly let out a white glow as their hands connected. The Grimm let out a sound reminiscent of a purr and Naruto let out an amused chuckle.
"It likes you."
Ruby laughed. "I can see that."
"They are lost creatures. But I can find them meaning. They were meant to be agents of change for us. Mankind has always wanted nothing more than to face its problems, not trying to embrace it. Had they done so, there wouldn't have any need for Hunters and Huntresses. Over the years, over decades… the Grimm has adapted to the hate, and so they feel hate. But if… if we can change that, how they feel."
Naruto smiled at her, "We can change everything."
In that moment, Ruby found herself stunned at Naruto, and for some reason, something drew her to his eyes; and something made her to empathize with him, for some reason, right now, at this moment, the world was bigger for her. It felt opened up, like she had found something, she felt like…
"For how long have you been able to do this?" she asked.
"Well, as long as I can remember I guess, but I didn't know of this until recently."
"How?"
"Kurama told me."
"Who's that?"
Naruto blinked at the way he was being free with her, and he clenched his fist. Did he really crave Human interaction that badly? He didn't want to say anything to scare her. He didn't want her to go.
"You wanted to know who I was. What if," he halted, "what if… you wouldn't want to know me if I told you?"
"Why do you think that?" Ruby asked.
"What if… you wouldn't want to be my friend?"
Ruby looked to him and smiled. "I thought… we already were?"
Naruto looked stunned to her and she began to laugh nervously, her pupils darting from left to right frantically. Naruto chuckled at the nervous tick.
He found it funny. It was a while since he was this free. The last time was…
She blinked, realizing something. "Hey," she smirked, dragging out of his thoughts. "How do you feel about climbing a cliff side?"
Naruto tilted his head in recognition. "Huh?"
…
Naruto looked in awe from the top of the cliff to the vast degree of landscape surrounding him. From the way the sun shone from the sky. It seemingly hit the land in a perfect color. And the breeze; it was cool and refreshing.
He could see why she liked this place.
"I'm surprised." Ruby admitted, a bit of a scowl on her face.
"About what?" Naruto inquired, sitting down on the cliff and looking across the landscape.
"How were you able to do that? Climb the cliff so easily?"
"I did something similar back when I was in school."
She looked interested. "You attended an Academy?!"
"Y…Yeah," Naruto smiled at her. She was a bit too excited about ordinary things. "You?"
"I do too!"
"Then why are you here?"
"It's the weekend."
Naruto blinked, Ruby sitting down right next to him. "And?"
"And, no school on weekends."
Naruto nodded in understanding. "Huh? That's strange."
"W…What?"
"My Academy didn't really care for that y'know."
"What?!" Ruby looked agape. "What kind of monsters are they?! No one goes to school on weekends."
"Yeah tell that to them. Every day counts. That's their mentality."
"They are jerks." Ruby nodded.
Naruto just chuckled. "Yeah."
"So, in your Academy did you guys make your own weapons?" Ruby asked in giddiness.
"Well, in a way we already had weapons back at home or we bought one. Forging weapons was a long hassle I guess." Naruto said. He looked to her Crescent Rose. "You made that I'm guessing."
"Yup! My adorable and awesome Crescent Rose!" She removed it and began to change its various forms. "It can be a scythe, or an awesome sniper!"
"That's really cool. Long and short range all built into one."
Ruby nodded in glee. "Yup!"
"I had a stash of weapons." Naruto said, "But I haven't really found one that speaks to me."
"Uh, how do you fight?"
"Well I like to get up close and personal." Naruto supplied.
Ruby nodded in approval. "Awesome."
Naruto just smiled at her upbeat and bright personality. It was really starting to get infectious. For long, he had been with Kurama, he never appreciated the small moments like this. For so long, he never knew the value of human bonds. For so long…
"You know what would be awesome?! A sword that could turn in to a bazooka!"
"I think that's impossible."
"Is it?"
"It's impossible."
"Yeah." She admitted deflating a bit. "Oh!" she brightened. "How about a… huge hammer that could transform into a bazooka!"
Naruto looked to her, laughing lightly at her outrageous statements. "As long as it morphs into a bazooka huh?"
"Bazooka's are awesome."
"Then why don't you have it?"
"Please, a scythe that can transform into a bazooka? Pfft! That's ridiculous."
Naruto gave her a dry expression. "I can't believe that's where you draw the line."
They were so distracted by their interactions that they failed to note the time, the sun moving to the other side of the globe.
Naruto looked to her after a while. "Hey, Ruby."
"What?"
The two had settled into a comfortable silence, just enjoying the moment. Apart from her family, Ruby had doubt that she had interacted with someone to this degree. And it was nice.
"What we discussed when we met, and what you saw."
"Yeah?"
"I'd like it to remain between us."
Ruby blinked. "W…Why? Wouldn't you want people to understand you?"
"There's a time and place for that. But now, people fear what they do not understand." He looked to her. "They will find out, eventually. But I have to go about it at my own pace."
Ruby looked at him for a while and smiled, nodding her head.
"Yeah, I got it."
Naruto gave her a toothy grin. "Thanks."
Ruby pat his shoulder. "What are friends for?"
…
"You were out much longer today. Dad was about to send to go get you." Yang commented, noting Ruby's upbeat attitude.
"I just liked training today."
"And you were just training." Yang asked in suspicion.
"Yup!"
"For some reason I don't believe that."
Ruby just stuck her tongue out as they sat down for dinner.
"Hey, Dad's gonna tell you something awesome."
"Awesome?" She blinked in glee. "Do I finally get-"
"No you do not get the bazooka."
Ruby deflated. "Then why am I alive."
Yang rolled her eyes at the dramatic teenager across her and concluded setting the table.
Taiyang walked in and sat down.
"Hey girls!"
"Yang said you had something awesome to tell me!" Ruby looked in curiosity and Yang gave an aghast expression to her sister.
"Unbelievable."
"W…What?"
"Couldn't you wait until we were done eating at least?"
"Well, now he knows. Come on Dad! What is it?!"
"Well, I guess… I wanted to tell you earlier today but for some reason you were training longer than usual."
"Well," Ruby blinked. "I'm beginning to like training."
"Huh." Taiyang arched an eyebrow. "Well, that's good."
"So, what did you want to tell me?"
"Well, Qrow spoke with the headmaster at Beacon, and you will be going with Yang to attend Beacon Academy."
Ruby blinked. "What?"
"Didn't you hear me?"
"My brain just died and woke up. It sounded like-"
"Yes, you are going with Yang and you will be a Huntress much sooner."
"That's awesome!"
"Right?" Taiyang smiled at his daughter. Some moments he just threw caution to the wind, if he could just see this kind of expression on his daughter's face. It made him happy.
"Great." Yang sighed at the excitement on Ruby's face. "Yeah, I'm sleeping peacefully tonight."
Ruby blinked. "Wait, Yang was going to Beacon tomorrow."
"Yeah she is."
"That means I'll have to follow her?"
"Yes."
"But I haven't packed, and-"
"I've taken care of that. Did you think your clothes just magically folded themselves?"
"Well I-"
Suddenly, the news didn't seem so great anymore. Not to be kidding, she was ecstatic that she was going to Beacon Academy, it was one step to being a Huntress. One big step.
The problem was she just met him today; Naruto. Someone who changed her outlook in just a day.
She wanted to see more, she wanted to hear more.
But now-
"Hey Ruby." Yang snapped her fingers before her younger sister. Ruby blinked.
"Huh?"
"You seemed jaded for a moment."
"Can you blame her?" Taiyang muttered. "She just found out something awesome."
"Y…Yeah." Ruby gave a strained smile and let out light laugh. "Just stunned is all."
Yang noticed her expression and asked. "Is everything alright?"
Ruby noted the worried look from Yang and realized that she was unsuccessful in hiding her feelings on the matter.
"Yes, it's just…" she let out a sigh. "It's sudden you know. My friends…"
While she trailed off, she realized there was only one of them that really mattered.
Naruto.
She looked in thought to the table.
Yang and Taiyang shared a look and Taiyang gestured to her.
Yang just placed her hand on Ruby's causing the youngest of the family to look to her. "I know it's a bit scary, but I'd be better knowing you'd be there with me."
Ruby smiled at her.
"It'll be scary, going there to a new place. Hell, even I get nervous about it. But it's nice, when you have someone to help in all that; someone that can make it seem like home, even if it's just a little bit. I have friends that aren't going to Beacon also, so I guess we have something to look forward to. I'll have your back, and you'd have mine." Yang grinned. "Besides, what are sisters for, eh?"
Ruby smiled at her genuinely. "Yeah."
…
The Next Day
Ruby was seen early in the morning staring to the top of the cliff where she and Naruto stayed till evening the previous day. She was displeased that she didn't see him there. She moved to the cave where she had encountered him, and didn't see him.
She scoured through the forest, running in haste. She was looking for him, but she didn't see him.
I need to see him, before I go. She thought, not knowing how much time had passed. Just one more time. I need to-
"Hey Ruby!" Ruby's eyes widened, turning to see Yang looking at her. "Enjoying a morning run? You were out for a while. Dad had to send me to make sure you were okay."
Ruby looked around the forest panting frantically. "I…"
Yang looked to her. "I've been looking for you. It's time we go."
"Y…Yeah." Ruby gulped in air and looked around again. "I was just…"
"Looking for someone." She whispered, closing her eyes in slight regret. I'm… sorry.
"Come on." Yang placed her hand on Ruby's shoulder. "Let's go. A new adventure awaits!"
"Y…Yeah." Ruby nodded and followed Yang back home but not before taking one last look at the forest, hoping he would just show himself.
Just where was he?
…
Naruto was seen in the night staring to the broken moon. He was on top of the cliff, the Grimm seen beside him.
"She's gone." He muttered. "I can… feel it in a way."
He smiled at the thought. "I was just beginning to like her."
She abandoned you.
Naruto just smiled. It doesn't matter anymore.
This is why I am against it. You reveal yourself to someone, it makes you… vulnerable.
She might be here tomorrow.
Or the day after, and the day after, and the day after but still, you'd eventually see that I am right. Take your mind of her. You know I'm right. Now, let's focus on what's important…
Many more Grimm began to gather to his location as Naruto's gaze to the moon hadn't changed.
…we have a world to change.
…
…The next time I saw Ruby Rose, was when Beacon fell. She had displayed a power, something I already knew, but it seemed like she didn't. It was incredible, and beautiful.
I wonder… how she'd feel, knowing I destroyed it all…
…
