Once Reaper's eyes started to turn red, it was nearly impossible to calm her back down before the Red Haze. Only twice in the past, when she was still Ruby, had she managed to finish a day with red eyes and not overflow. The nightmares she had were the price to pay to avoid a rampage, and she woke the next morning silver eyed again. Reaper was hoping she could accomplish that feat a third time, confining herself to a study room and only allowing Velvet in for company.

But she had to join the student body one more time before the end of today. Making through dinner in the cafeteria mess hall was the real test. As she sat down, she could tell that team JNPR were the only people Velvet hadn't already informed. Jaune recoiled, trading seats with Pyrrha to gain distance from Reaper. Pyrrha had a fearful look in her eye, but only for a second. Nora elected to stop talking without Ren's insistence for once. Ren remained stoic as ever, though glanced at Reaper's eyes long enough for the girl to register his surprise.

"Why are you out here and not in the dorm?" Weiss asked, keeping her tone level.

"I don't have my new scroll yet. Can't scan myself in until it arrives." Reaper answered as evenly as she could. Weiss nodded, remembering Ruby had come back with her old Beacon scroll broken. Thankfully the group returned to silence. Reaper realized it wasn't out of fear, but because they were trying to help her not get any worse the only way they could. Well a quiet dinner is exactly what I hoped for. I might just pull this off.

Unfortunately, Reaper would not get her wish.

Velvet left to get a refill of her drink halfway through the meal. A few moments later, the sound of her pleading voice reached Reaper's ears. "Cardin, stop! Please, stop…" She slowly turned to see the bully tugging on one of her old girlfriend's ears once again, while spouting off some stupid nonsense and insults. She could feel her fist tighten, and barely registered the rest of her groups growing apprehension. Still an asshole, Cardin? You picked the wrong day for it…

Velvet looked over and saw Ruby rise from her seat and begin walking over, her eyes starting to glow. "Cardin, stop!" She tried and failed to warn him, her cries only aggravating Reaper. Cardin ignored the plea, but the rest of his team noticed Ruby's approach. They all ran with the exception of Sky, who tried to alert his leader.

"Cardin, you should really stop."

"Why, Sky? You a faunus lover now?"

"Cardin, she's back!"

"Who's back?" Cardin looked over and finally saw Ruby. His face immediately changed to one of horror. "Oh, Shi-" He was interrupted by Reaper's fist meeting his face and sending him flying halfway across the cafeteria. He lay there with a bloody broken nose, frozen by Reaper's crimson stare.

"How long after I left did this start happening again?" Reaper asked Velvet without breaking her stare down.

"Ruby,-"

"How long!?"

"… Two weeks…"

Reaper's fists tightened further. "I'm sorry, Velv…"

"Ruby…" Velvet tried, but it was too late. The scythe master was already zeroing in on where Cardin now lay. She grabbed him by the throat and dragged him to the far wall, lifting him and slamming against the stone hard enough to crack it. Reaper brought their noses less than an inch from each other and stared right into his eyes.

"Listen closely, you dick," she whispered so only he would hear, "your days of hate mongering are over. Even if I vanish again, even after we graduate, even ten years from now, if I ever catch wind that you have mistreated any faunus, especially one of my friends, I will not hesitate to kill you. Am I understood? Oh, and don't tell anyone what I just said, or… you get the picture."

He nodded frantically in response, seeing the truth of her statement in her eyes. Reaper turned and spun, using the momentum to throw Cardin out of a nearby window. Realizing she needed to get far away from people, Reaper stormed right out of the cafeteria. It wasn't until she was standing at the door to RWBY dorm that she remembered she couldn't get in alone. Not letting that stop her, she kicked the door in and went straight into the bathroom, locking herself inside.

That son of a BITCH! Still get your kicks from hurting Velvet!? I WILL kill you! No… I can't… calm down girl… I need to calm down… Grimm. Crescent Rose. Emerald Forest. I need to leave now… Reaper leaned back against the bathroom door, trying to control her breathing. I almost wish Neo were here right now… she could calm me down… Reaper felt one of her hands travel down her stomach. She stopped it at her waistband as her eyes widened. What am I doing? Thinking of Neo, of all people, at a time like this? And I almost… what am I thinking!?

You're thinking of how good she makes you feel.

Reaper froze and looked around the bathroom. Where the hell did that voice just come from? "Is somebody there?"

You're thinking of how much you secretly enjoy her touch, how she rocks your world.

Reaper's hand started to slide further, as if egged on by the mysterious feminine voice, the stranger somehow overpowering her will. She ripped it out and clenched both of her fists at her side. I will not allow myself to do that, thinking of her. "Who's there? Show yourself!"

Wait… you can hear me? You can finally hear me?

"Finally?" Reaper asked. "What do you mean, finally?"

I have waited a long time to properly talk to you.

"Where are you?" Reaper asked. Who are you? She added in her mind, intending to ask it next.

Who am I? The Voice responded, shocking Reaper as she didn't ask that one out loud. You know who I am, 'Ruby'. Reaper slowly scanned the bathroom once more, stopping at the mirror, at her own red eyes, with a terrifying recognition. That's right! I am the devil on your shoulder. The devil you created. If there is a line between 'Ruby' and 'Reaper', I am what's on the other side.

"No…" Reaper realized The Voice came from inside of her own head. That's how it knew her thoughts, spoke secret truths she was frightened to accept.

Poor little Ruby Rose… The Voice continued, laughing. All she wanted was to save her precious sister's life. And all you did was damn yourself to walk the path to madness. Enjoy the trip, girl. I know I will.

"Shut up!" Reaper yelled, punching the mirror in the hopes it would somehow punch The Voice. As the glass shattered, the bathroom door was wrenched open by Weiss, Blake and Velvet. Reaper's eyes passed over all of them in turn, ending on Velvet.

Ohhh… maybe she can help us? You think she's anything like Neo in bed?

Reaper growled and shoved past the girls, grabbing Crescent Rose before flashing away. We are going to have soooo much fun together…The Voice continued to tempt and tease Reaper as she ran to the Emerald Forest, laughing the whole time. She sped through the forest, looking for signs of a large gathering of Grimm. She found one, though not quite as she anticipated.

The Grimm here were all dead already, their broken bodies dissolving away. She managed to examine the wounds on one before it vanished, and didn't like what she saw. "What are you doing here?" she asked aloud. Neo stepped out from behind a nearby tree, twirling her umbrella.

Oh ho! Lucky us!

"You seriously think we are going to do anything? You're one of the reasons I'm pissed off at the moment!" Reaper shouted, ignoring The Voice. Neo answered by leaning on her umbrella and gesturing toward a nearby cave with a suggestive smile.

Come on! You know you want to. Remember that thing she does with her-

"Shut up!" Reaper cocked her head away from Neo to yell at the ground. Neo's smile was replaced by a puzzled look.

Talking to yourself is the first sign of insanity, you know.

"Clearly, I'm already insane." Reaper told The Voice. Neo watched on as the girl began pacing, almost forgetting she was there. "It doesn't mean I'm going to give you what you want."

Oh please, girl. You may be aware of me now, but you'll do no better resisting me. Besides, you know you want it too.

"No, I don't."

Did you already forget about what you did, oh sorry, almost did in the bathroom?

"That wasn't me, that was you."

That distinction doesn't exist, you know that right? I am you, or at least a part of you. If I want something, you want it to. I'm just the half that's honest with ourself.

"But… I don't…"

Just give in, girl. It's so much easier when you do. Hurry, she's waiting for us…

Reaper stopped pacing as her breathing became more erratic. Neo watched with vested interest as this developed. It didn't take a lot of deductive skill for the multi-colored girl to realize what was happening. She had been a careful observer of Reaper's descent, and had seen how sometimes she really did seem to become a different person at the drop of a hat. If that other person had a voice in Reaper's mind now, Neo was curious as to the half of the conversation she couldn't hear.

Her brain power was spent elsewhere from that moment on. Reaper finally moved again, closing in on Neo and crashing their lips together. She half carried, half dragged Neo into the cave and gave into herself, and into Neo. Much to the multi-colored girl's pleasure.


God I love that girl…

No you don't. Even I know we don't have any real feelings for her.

We just love what she can do to us, right?

You know I'm right.

Reaper redressed after showering in the locker rooms. If Blake or Velvet had smelled Neo all over her, it wouldn't help her cover, so she didn't risk going straight to the dorm. Once she did arrive and was about to knock when she had a sense of déjà vu. It's even midnight again. I need my new scroll. Reaper took a deep breath and knocked on the door, which was immediately opened. Not by Weiss this time, but by Velvet, who jumped out and threw her arms around the girl.

"Wasn't it you who once said something about hugging random people?" Reaper asked her.

"I knew it was you…" Velvet told her, tapping her nose.

Reaper smiled and drew her own arms around the girl. No matter what happened, even with Neo, even with The Voice, she knew she loved this girl. She was going to miss this more than anything. They stood there holding each other for nearly a full minute without moving or speaking. Eventually they broke away. "You okay now, love? Done what you need to do?" Velvet asked.

"Yeah, I'm calm. Just tired now." Reaper replied.

"I'm sorry about all that…"

"It wasn't your fault. Cardin was the asshole."

Velvet smiled. "You know… my offer from last night still stands, if you want to take it."

You should take it. Who knows how much longer we'll be here.

No. I won't let you anywhere near her. You had Neo. Velvet is where I draw the line.

"Sorry, Velv…"

Velvet didn't lose her smile as she began to walk to her dorm. "I'm going to keep asking until you say yes, just so you know. Goodnight, Ruby. I love you."

"I love you too, goodnight!" Reaper smiled and stepped inside RWBY dorm. Weiss was asleep, but Blake had waited up for Ruby. They traded 'goodnights' and went to their respective beds (Though Reaper's 'bed' was actually the couch). Reaper settled in, eager for sleep, but The Voice wouldn't let her go just yet.

We should really have some fun with her.

Reaper tried to ignore it.

Come on, you do love her after all. How many chances are you going to have to be with her once we're done here?

I shouldn't even be with her this much while I'm here. It's going to break her heart again when I leave. I really am selfish now…

So why not indulge?

Do you ever stop talking?

I'm a voice in your head, darling. Talking is literally all I can do.

Can we please just get some sleep?

Fine, fine, I'll shut up for now. But this Velvet thing isn't over. Oh, and we should go to Ozpin's office in the morning to ask for our scroll.

Why? If it comes in they'll just deliver it to us.

Ozpin's. Office.

Oh. Good idea.


Reaper waited in the reception area for Ozpin's office. It would have been difficult to get anywhere near the keypad without cameras picking her up, but if she had an excuse to be here it would help her get close. It really was a good plan, she didn't know whether to congratulate The Voice or herself. The Voice said it, but logic told Reaper a voice in her head couldn't have greater intelligence and knowledge than she already possessed. Technically, she did come up with the plan, and just used an imaginary voice as a medium.

It's a strange feeling to know you're crazy and also be smart enough to see things from a saner point of view.

I'd still give me all the credit.

Of course you would.

By that logic, you do realize that everything I want to do with Velvet and Neo, it's really you that's pushing it.

Shut up.

"Ms. Rose, Professor Ozpin is ready for you."

Reaper nodded at the receptionist and headed into the elevator. Unless Ozpin was already in the office to buzz you up, the only way to get the elevator up there was to use the access code on the keypad. Reaper quickly noted the camera's position and reacted appropriately. To anyone watching the feed, it would look as though she stood as she did to hit the button to Ozpin's office. Her body blocked the camera from seeing her plant the decoder device on the keypad.

The elevator ding-ed at the top and the doors slid open.

"Ah, yes, Ms. Rose. You wanted to see me?" He asked her.

"I was wondering if my scroll came in yet. I had an… issue yesterday, and my team mates had to stay awake to let me into the dorm." Reaper told him, slightly nervous. The most dangerous person to the whole plan was Ozpin, who always seemed to know more than he let on.

"Cardin is recovering well, by the way. I do believe I sent it out with an aid a moment ago… you must have just missed each other in the halls. I'll have him deliver it to your first class."

"Thank you, sir." Reaper nodded and turned to leave.

"Ruby, are you feeling alright?" Ozpin asked the girl before she could leave. "You seem tense."

"I'm fine, sir." The girl replied quickly, hoping to hurry out of here. Ozpin nodded. If he didn't accept the answer, he at least accepted Ruby wouldn't talk about it just yet. Reaper stepped into the elevator to head to class.

Just another day or two of this and it's done. I can make it that long. I hope…