Chapter 20:

Blake sat by the fire, enjoying the last glowing embers. The nights had been long, despite the new relationship with Yang, Blake still felt depressed. Blake hadn't told any of her teammates; she didn't want them to see what Ruby's immanent death was doing to her. Despite her new love interest with Yang, and Weiss having a relationship with her, Blake still had a crush on Ruby.

Blake had questioned her self multiple times over the course of the night. Why am I still crushing on Ruby? Even when I'm now in love, and in a relationship with Yang? Even still, why can't I let it go now that Ruby has the love of her life, Weiss? All of these questions had arisen in the girls mind while sitting by the fire.

Blake had asked that Weiss and Yang give her some thinking time. So far the only thing she managed to do was get her self even more confused. Should she confess her feelings to Ruby? Would that brake up White Rose? Would that break up her own relationship with Yang, Bumblebee? What if Blake didn't admit her feelings? Would that make her even more miserable?

The answer to the last question was easy to think of. Blake realized, if she didn't confess her feelings to Ruby, she would become more depressed. Even though Blake would probably reach unhealthy levels of depression, she wouldn't commit suicide. 'I won't commit suicide as long as Ruby is still alive. If she dies, then I promise myself to take my own life' Blake thought.

The fire's embers died slowly, giving off no warmth mirroring the girl's drive to live. Blake wanted desperately to find Ruby. Blake needed to find Ruby before the night ended. Sighing, Blake arose from her seat by the now dead and cold fire. Stooping, Blake grabbed and pocketed Gambol Shroud her weapon.

Without a word to her teammates, Blake left determined to find Ruby. If she couldn't find Ruby inside forever fall, then Blake would simply take her weapon and stake her self in the heart. It didn't matter, not with Yang, not with anyone. If Blake couldn't have Ruby, or at least have a part of Ruby, she wouldn't want to go on.

This line of thinking would have startled anyone she talked to, so Blake kept it to her self. If Blake told anyone of her depression, then they would try to help. Blake jogged along the dark forest; soon it became too dark to continue safely. Blake took out a mini black flashlight she always kept on her for these types of emergencies.

Switching on the mini light caused the path ahead to be illuminated. Blake followed the path wanting to know where it would lead. Would it lead her to Ruby? Or would it not bring her to Ruby, just a convenient place to commit suicide? Blake continued forward.

After a while noises filtered through the trees, at first Blake couldn't hear them. Then as Blake followed them, and as they got louder, she heard a swish. After a brief pause came a sickening thud. A piercing dogs wine sounded, mixed in with human tones. Blake new instantly what had made the sound, only a dog Faunus could be capable of that sound.

Rushing forward, Blake equipped and transformed Gambol Shroud into two katana blades. Bursting into a clearing, Blake stopped to survey the scene. Ruby stood in the middle of a vast field, waving with mid shin high grass. The dark haired girl's scythe was sticking out of a Faunus. The dog Faunus Blake had heard crying out earlier.

Multiple corpses surrounded Ruby, 11 to be exact. Looking closer Blake discovered they were all Faunus. Blake's head snapped back to Ruby, wanting an explanation. Ruby was screaming.

"Die! Why won't you die? You've been chasing me for hours, the whole afternoon and night. I can't take it anymore! Just die!" Ruby's eyes were filled with fear and exhaustion. Ruby's continence seemed very dark, almost demonic looking.

Ruby then, with a violent twirl of her scythe, ripped the 12th Faunus in half. "Oh God!" Ruby moaned, she was facing Blake with a horrified look on her face. "I thought they were evil humanoid shadows chasing me. I didn't know I was killing Faunus. I swear I didn't know."

"Listen Ruby, I'm Faunus. So before I…oh my god Ruby. Kill me!" Blake's depressed mind spoke for her, seeing the perfect opportunity to end Blake's life.

"Blake I will do this if it's what you really want. However I think you should confess if anything is bothering you. Is there anything you wanted to tell me?" Ruby asked Blake seriously. "Don't immediately answer no, I can tell when someone's lying to me. Be blunt."

"First lets talk, why did you start killing Faunus?" Blake said, desperately needing to distract her depressed mind from suicidal thoughts.

"I thought they were Grims sent to kill me." Ruby said.

"Why would a dozen Grims be sent to kill you?" Blake asked.

"I just recently escaped from Roman Torchwick. I also managed to steal the Grim Sphere, which didn't make Roman happy." Ruby said.

"You stole the Grim Sphere?" Blake asked with desperation. Her depressed mind was dangerously close to asking Ruby for assistance in suicide.

Ruby reached into a worn leather satchel and pulled out the artifact. At Ruby's touch it pulsed briefly, emitting a clear substance made of darkness. Blake stared in amazement. Ruby seeing her friends expression, took the Grim Sphere close to her mouth. Ruby then began to consume the darkness emitting from the artifact.

The substance flowed from the Grim Sphere into Ruby. Blake should have been disgusted, however she was just distracted. After all Blake needed to be distracted, otherwise her depression would make her commit suicide. All the thoughts about taking her life, combined with the fact of finally seeing Ruby drove Blake over the edge.

"Ruby will…will you help me? I need to sort out my feelings. I think I love you? Oh god I need help." Blake said.

Stopping in her feeding, Ruby looked up at Blake. "Let's go back to your camp, I'm sure I can help you sort out your feelings. After all what kind of leader would I be if I couldn't help you?" Ruby said.

"What about the Faunus?" Blake asked. Ruby was silent. "Ruby, answer me. What should we do with the dead Faunus?"

"Blake there is no dead Faunus lying around. Look around you, there are no corpses. I think these were just complete sound and sight hallucination shadows. Things that make you hear and see things." Ruby said.

"How did you know that?" Blake asked.

"I just knew. I think it has something to do with me eating the Grim Sphere." Ruby said, sighing.

Ruby then grabbed Blake's shoulder, asking where the camp was. Shaking off the hand, Blake led the way back to the camp. Walking back didn't require any light. The Grim Sphere made it possible to see without light. The two found themselves back at camp. The fire was dead and they were cold. Blake wanted to get her confession over with.

Blake explained all her feelings to Ruby. Blake poured her heart out to Ruby, who was listening intently to every word. After Blake's confession of her crush and her depression, Ruby explained what to do. "The crush isn't for me, it's meant to be for Yang. However your depression for me rules your mind. That way any new feelings would be directed at me. Confess to Yang if you haven't done so already, it should help. Also seek emotional and physical comfort from Yang, a lover can be the best cure for a mind afflicting sickness." Ruby, team leader of RWBY, said.

…

A/N: This story is getting dark. I still hope that those who still read it will find it entertaining. I would like to thank you all for the support you have shown so far on this series. I wouldn't be continuing this if you guys didn't want more. Leave a like, favorite, follow, or a review if you feel so inclined.