A/N: Yay, an update in less then a week. Hope you enjoy


Wilting Rose

She paced back and forth in the infirmary's hallway as her mind was filled with the sight she had just seen hours before. Yang would never be able to forget seeing what had been done to her baby sister. The blonde could feel the concerned eyes of her friends on her but she didn't care. All Yang cared about at the moment was Ruby's state of mind. And her sister was definitely not fine when it came to that.

After Ruby had stopped crying she had retreated back into herself and remained unresponsive to any of the older sister's pleas as well as her friend's. Yang had to cradled her sister back to Beacon. Along the way Weiss had called Ozpin who had instructed them to take Ruby to the school's infirmary. Upon arrival Goodwitch had already had a room set aside for the young girl and had instructed that the rest of them waited outside so she could talk to Ruby in private. This only served to infuriate Yang even more who wanted to stay by her littles sister to insure that she was safe.

So now the blonde was pacing in the hallway waiting for Goodwitch to be done talking to Ruby or for Ozpin to show up. Each second only increasing her frustration. Yang tried to think of something to calm herself down but her mind just kept on going back to what she saw in the forest. She couldn't help but think what would have happened if she had been late in finding Ruby or worse, not find her at all. The blonde shook her head to rid herself of the thought, it would've been too much to bear if something like that had happened.

"Yang," Weiss said in concern from her seat, "maybe you should sit down."

"I'm fine." The blonde said sternly.

"No, you're not." Blake said firmly as she got up from her seat. The black haired girl walked over to her and rested her hand on Yang's shoulder. "You're anything but fine. You're frustrated, agitated and upset. You need to sit down and get your head clear."

"Upset?" Yang said almost in a whisper, before slapping Blake's hand away. "Of course I'm upset! How could I be anything but upset? My sister just went through an experience that no one should go through! And you want to know the worst of it! It's my fault! It was my idea to go out tonight! What was I thinking when that bastard is after Ruby! I put my sister in danger again."

She said the last bit so quietly she barely felt the words leave her lips. The lilac eyed girl saw a look of confusion cross Weiss' face and a sudden realization cross Blake's.

"Yang," Blake said in a comforting tone, "this isn't the same thing. You just wanted to help Ruby get her mind of everything that has been happening. None of this is your fault."

"Yes it is." Yang said adamantly. "Don't you get it, Blake? I put my sister in danger again because of my arrogance."

"I don't under-" Weiss began to say but in Yang's frustration slammed her fist into the wall cutting the heiress off. She continued to stare at the now cracked wall.

"I swear," Yang said with conviction, "I'll make things right. When I find him I'll make him pay. I'm going to make him wish he was never born. I'll make him beg for me to end it all. Then I'll ki-"

"Yang." A firm but soft filmier voice stopped her rant and quelled her fury to a flicker. The blonde turned in the direction of the voice. Just a few feet past her friends stood Ozpin who had finally arrived, but he wasn't the one that drew her attention. The blond haired blue-eyed man did.

"D- Dad?" Was all she could get out. A silence fell over the hallway. Both Blake and Weiss looked back and forth between the father and daughter, seemly unsure what to say. Ozpin was the first to break the silence.

"Miss Schnee, Miss Belladonna," the older man said, "why don't you come with me and recount to me what has occurred tonight."

The professor turned around and began to walk down the hallway before either girl could respond making it clear that it wasn't a request. Both of her friends looked back her with concern. It was obvious that neither wanted to leave. But they reluctantly followed Ozpin. Once they were out of sight Yang returned her attention to her father.

"Dad, I-" Before she could finish Yang made the short dash into her father's arms and began to cry. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I tried. I tried so hard to keep her safe."

Ruby and Yang had been keeping in contact with their father since this whole nightmare began. He had been very adamant in his concern for the younger sister's safety. But both girls had assured him that everything would be fine. Yang even promised to make sure nothing would happen to Ruby. A lot good that did the blonde thought as she continued to cry in her father's shoulder.

"It's okay, Yang." Taiyang said soothingly while embracing her. "It's not your fault."

"But I put her in danger again." Yang said while pulling away from her father. She couldn't understand how he couldn't be mad at her.

"Honey, we're dealing with a person," he stated, "that's different from the Grimm. This… man, he was going to come after Ruby regardless if she was out in the open or not."

"But-" Yang said as she looked down at her feet only to have her father lift her chin up.

"It's not your fault." Tai said more firmly, "Okay?"

"Okay." The young girl said. Her father gave her a small smile which she returned. Their moment was interrupted when Ruby's room door opened and Goodwitch walked out with a solemn look on her face.

"Glynda." Tai greeted the professor with a nod.

"Tai." She said quietly back.

"How's my girl?" He asked in a soft tone.

"Physically," Goodwitch said after letting out a sigh, "she is fine. It's her psyche I'm worried about. Ruby wouldn't say much to me other than a very short description of what happened."

"Can we see her?" Yang asked. The professor looked between her and her father before nodding.

"I have to go report to Ozpin." She said excusing herself. "I wish you both luck."

As Goodwitch walked away Yang's father gentle wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her along towards the door, behind which were baby sister was. And she was scared off the state she would find her in.


"Yes," the red-haired man said into his scroll. "Yes. Alright. Yeah. I understand. I'll see to it. Thank you, Ozpin. Good-night."

Pyrrhus leaned over desk after he lightly tossed his scroll onto it after a long conversation with the headmaster of Beacon. Kaito Kido's assault on Ruby Rose should have come to no surprise to him but the act still upset him. The young girl had just gone through an experience no one should have to go through let alone a young girl. Fortunately, the Ruby's friends had arrived in time to keep the assault could develop into something worse.

It was ironic really. He had been very adamant about his displeasure over the team of young huntresses-to-be getting involved in this case partly because as a professional he saw their involvement as a nuances to the case. But he was more concern what would happen to them. So it was ironic that the assault on Ms. Rose would happen when they weren't looking into the case.

His thoughts were interrupted when his scroll went off. The green-eyed man looked at the I.D. of the caller, but the screen told him the caller had blocked it. The detective picked up his scroll and to answer his mysterious caller.

"Hello." Pyrrhus said. There was no answer. "Hello"

Then a voice came over saying a series of words and a location. His eyes widened before the caller hanged up. The detective immediately got up from his seat, grabbed his coat and headed for the door. On his way out of the building some of his colleagues asked him where he was going. Pyrrhus just replied that he was heading out to meet an old friend.


The father of two had been outraged when he received word on what had happen to Ruby. Taiyang had taken the earliest fight from Patch to Vale to get to his baby girl. However, upon seeing Yang's distraught behavior he had buried his anger to try and reassure his oldest child. Now his furry was threating to boil over again.

When he entered the room Tai saw a small body curled up into a ball lying on a bed. The father wanted to let out his anger on something but he buried it for the sake of his girls. The blond had to stay strong for them. He couldn't fall apart on them again. Tai walked over and sat done beside Ruby.

"Hey, Rosebud." He said as he rested his hand on her shoulder. She lifted up her head from her pillow to look at him.

"Daddy?" Ruby said quietly. Before Tai could respond his young girl got up and hugged him tightly. She was letting out small sobs as she held on.

"Hey, there." The father said soothingly as he hugged her back. "It's alright. Everything will be alright."

"It's too much, dad." His little girl said. "All of this, all of these things he has done, because of me."

Tai looked back at his oldest in confusing. Yang seem to have a solemn look on her face. Then it hit him what had really left Ruby in this state. It wasn't the kissed that was forced on her. No that was just the straw that broke the camel's back. This deranged man had been kill a great many people out of some sort of twisted sense of love for his little rose. Yang had told him how hard Ruby had been taking it. And it had finally broken her down.

"Ozpin told me why this man is obsessed with." The father stated softly. "But you know what? I'm proud of you."

Ruby looked up at him in confusion.

"Because you saved his life." Tai said with a small smile. "I would expect nothing less from one of my girls. You're becoming a huntress, Ruby. Saving people is what you do. And your mother would be as proud of you as I am."

"Yeah, Rubes." His oldest said finally breaking her silence. She sat down next to her young sister. "You are a good person. And I couldn't be more proud for what you've become and what you will become in the future."

"This man's actions have no accountability on you." He stated. "No matter what anyone says. None of what he does is your fault."

His little rosebud seemed to contemplate what was said to her before laying her head on his chest with a smile. Tai finally felt at ease for the first time that night. He tightened his hold on the little girl. Soon Yang joined in the embrace.

"Could we just stay like this for a little while?" Ruby asked serenely.

"Of course we can." The father said. Happy in the thought of being so close to his two girls.


Pyrrhus walked around the alleyway he had arrived at only half an hour ago. He was a little nervous. It had been years this he had heard from his contact. So to get word from him while in the middle of a case surprised him a bit. So here the red-haired man was, waiting in a dark alley. His friend always did like being cliché.

"You're early." A voice said from the darkness drawing the detective's attention. A man walked into what little light there was in the alley. Revealing his white uniform, dark brown-hair and his bat-ears.

"Well your call seemed urgent." Pyrrhus said sternly as the Faunus walked up to him. There was a moment of silence between the two as they stared each other down. Then they embraced one another. "It's good to see you old friend."

"It's good to see you to." The Faunus said back before pulling away.

"How's life treating you these last few years, Edom." The detective asked.

"Undercover work is tough." The brown-haired man said with a sigh. "But I get by. How's your case going?"

"It's a nightmare." Pyrrhus stated in frustration. "Kido has been doing all of this over a girl that is attending Beacon. She and her team have been getting involved in the case to my great annoyance. She was just assaulted to night. Luckily her friends arrived before it could develop into something worse."

"Well, I'm about to make things even more difficult for then." Edom stated.

"Is this what you called me here for?" The red=haired man asked. His friend nodded and began to tell him everything that the White Fang had been up to and what had been going on with Kido's attacks. When he finished Pyrrhus' eyes were as wide as saucers. "Are the White Fang insane? Where did they even get the parts they would need for that?"

"I don't know." The Faunas said. "I'm not high enough up in the hierarchy to know everything. All I know is that they have friends in high places."

"And now the kid has all of it?" Pyrrhus asked still astonished at he was hearing. He received a nod from Edom. "Good god. Now it all makes sense."

"Not all is lost." Edom said as he pulled out a small device. "I slipped a tracer on one of the pieces when I was able to."

The detective took the device from his friend an activated it. A mapped popped up on the screen and showed a blimp not far from where they were standing.

"Good thinking." The red-haired man said to his friend. "Let's head out."

The location was close enough that the two made their way on foot. They arrived to a small abandoned warehouse. Pyrrhus could see a small amount of light coming from one of the windows. Two quietly approached the door and stood on either side of it. They pulled out their weapons and prepared to enter. Being closer to the handle the detective reached for it before looking at his partner.

"Just like old times." The Faunus said as he prepared for their breach.

"Yeah." Pyrrhus said before forcing the door open allowing them to enter.


Weiss sat quietly in the waiting room as she tried to fight off the weariness that was trying to overtake her. It had been hours since Ruby and Yang's father had arrived and he and Yang hadn't left Ruby's room since. Out the window nearby the blue-eyed girl could see light just starting to reach over the horizon signaling that the sun would rise soon.

She turned her attention to the Faunus girl that sat beside her. Blake had apparently lost her battle and was fast asleep. The heiress couldn't help but think back to what was said between the black-haired girl and Yang. That the blonde had at some point had put Ruby in danger once, or at least that was what Yang believed, and Blake knew about it. Weiss couldn't help but feel like she was being left out of some sort of big secret between her friends.

It's not important right now. The white-haired girl thought to herself returning her mind to the events that had transpired over the night. She hoped that Ruby would be alright. See her usually upbeat partner being so quiet and distant was unnerving to Weiss. Hopefully being with some of her family members would help the dual-colored haired girl's state of mind.

Her blue-eyes looked up at the holo-TV hoping to find something interesting to take her mind of things for a little bit. But what she saw did the exact opposite. The news was on with a headline that then chills down her spine. Weiss got up from her seat and went up to the TV so she could turn up the sound.

"Police responded to a disturbance last night at this abandoned warehouse." The reporter said. "Upon arrival investigators found two dead bodies. One was an unknown Faunus and the other was Detective Pyrrhus.


A/N: Hope you enjoyed. It is a good thing season three gave us a little bit on Tai, gave me something to work with once I finally got to the point of bring him into the story. I feel like I should have foreshadowed Edom a little bit, oh well. As always feedback is appreciated.