AN: And here's the new chapter! The delay was due to computer problems I had recently and even more than that was the fact I couldn't figure out until now how I wanted this chapter to go. But I think I got the right stuff down and hope you guys enjoy it. Let's hit the road and jump right into it shall we?

Chapter 2: Orange Journey

"Great, a damn traffic jam." Yang grumbled 20 minutes later as they slowed to a stop in the middle of the packed street.

"Well considering it's a Monday morning that's not that surprising.." Ruby supplied, turning to look at a fancy white limo as it pulled up next to them. "Plus there's the V.V. festival coming up, and everyone's in a hurry nowadays..."

"And that blasted vigilante running amok last night." Yang muttered under her breath. But Ruby had caught it and gasped as she stopped trying to peer in the limo's windows.

"Vigilante? Do you mean the Yellow Phoenix?!"

Yang rolled her eyes and nodded as Ruby squealed in excitement. "Still don't get why you're so giddy over that law breaker."

Ruby couldn't deny it, she'd been more than a little obsessed with the mysterious character ever since they'd first appeared a couple months prior. "What wasn't to like? A badass looking woman who seemed to spit fire from her hands and more than happy to irritate the local police while stopping bad guys? Everyone wants to be her!"

"Oh come on Rubes," Yang said exasperatedly looking back at her as the bike finally got to move forward a few feet. "She's a nutcase and gonna get herself klled. If not from some psycho criminal than a trigger happy cop. You should hear some of the cops that came into the bar last night. Had them running all over the city last night. All just because she broke up some jewelry store robbery."

"Last night? Was it on the news?"

Yang groaned, she just had to have said something. "I don't know, I was working. Some of us actually want to do something productive with our lives."

Ruby smirked and nudged her. "You're just jealous she has way better hair than you." Yang rolled her eyes again and looked around. She could swear that the traffic had gotten more congested and even slower than it was five minutes ago.

"Gods we're getting nowhere, what's the blasted hold up? You'll be late to class."

"You make that sound like a bad thing." Ruby said with a smirk. Looking around she noted the large park downhill from where they were. More interesting to her was the top of Signal Academy slightly visible over the top of the trees in the distance. "Too bad you can't cut through the park, it would be way...quicker..." Her eyes widened as Yang chuckled ominously at her words. "Wait Yang I was kidding! Yang?" the only response was Yang gripping the handles and revving the bike's engine.

"Yang! Yaaaaang!" Ruby shrieked and barely grabbed onto her sister in time as she suddenly spun the bike and started zooming between cars and towards the park.

Her sister could only whoop in glee as they were off and running down the slope and away from the street. Carnival workers looked up in surprise and could only yell startled as they barreled towards them, several times coming close to hitting several. Ruby had barely any time to shriek warnings as they approached and winced embarrased as people dived out of the way of Yang's crazed driving skills. Rides were dodged and carnival game booths seenmed to pose no threat as Yang somehow managed to barely miss sending them crashing into the structures.

"Hold it!" a security officer yelled at them, somehow finding the guts to step in their path.

"Sorry we're late!" Yang yelled happily and the officer wasn't stupid, jumping out of their way and yelling after them as they roared past. Ruby could only look back and wave apologetically at him. Turning back she felt a flash of relief as they approached the other end of the park, the sidewalk sloping back up and towards the street. Physics and common sense said that they'd have to slow down right?

Apparently Yang thought otherwise and slammed her foot on the gas sending them even faster. "What the heck are you doing?!" Ruby screeched as they barreled up the slope. She'd seen enough action movies to guess where this was whooped as they hit the top of the slope and were airborne.

Ruby could only cling to her sister's back as Yang leaned back and to the side, twisting the handles of the bike and sending Bumblebee into a midair spin for severl heart stopping seconds before it crashed back onto the street, startling several pedestrians. The bike creaked and leaned warningly, nearly sending the riders into a black haired girl as she came out the nearby coffee shop. The near death esperience didn't last long before Yang revved the motor and took off again. The new street was less crowded and several minutes later they pulled to a screeching stop in front of Signal Academy.

"Whoo nailed it!" Yang said breathlessly, pushing her sunglasses up onto her forehead. "Urk, air Rubes..." she carefully pried her sister's shaking hands off her midsection and turned to look back at her.

"You. Are. Completely. Insane!" Ruby said angrily, swatting her sister several times. "Were you trying to get us killed?!" Yang could only laugh as she fended off her sister's angry attack.

"Oh it wasn't that bad." she said cheerfully. "I had everything under control, knew exactly what I was doing. Plus I thought you like going fast?"

"Yeah, when I'm running, not on a crazy death ride through an obstacle course!" Yang could only laugh harder as Ruby scowled at her. But after several moments even Ruby could crack a smile. Part of her had to admit that had been a thrill you didn't expect to experience everyday and live through it. Add the fact that it got Yang smiling and laughing again after what felt like way too long lately she couldn't feel too bad. "Ok fine, that was kinda fun." she admitted.

"See? You just have to live a little sis." Yang said as Ruby stepped shakily off the bike and onto solid unmoving ground. When she stumbled, Yang quickly reached to catch her. "Whoa, careful there." She waited several moments for Ruby to reorient herself before letting her go. Watching Ruby shoulder her backpack, Yang sighed. "Hey about earlier..."

"What before you tried to make me a road pancake?" Ruby snarked, and Yang stuck out her tongue before continuing.

"With Dad and all that. I wanna say sorry. I don't mean to be such a jerk lately." she sighed. "It's just... it's been so rough lately. But that trip, I can't just let it go like you seem to think I can. I know you guys mean well but after everything I saw, and Velvet..." she trailed off and Ruby instantly hugged her again. Yang could barely supress a shudder, hugging Ruby just as tight.

"No, don't worry Yang I get it." Ruby said softly. "I can't imagine living through that. To see what you did, to live through that, I can't imagine trying to cope with what happened. I'm just trying to show that you still have people who are willing to help you find a way to Yang. So does dad, he just has no clue how to go about it. He still loves you though, we both do. We're just worried about you." Yang didn't respond, only letting out a barely controlled sob. They stood there for several moments, as long as Yang needed. Finally she took a shaky breath and eased her grip off of Ruby. Wiping her eyes, she gave Ruby a watery smile.

"Yeah I know. I'll try and remember that from now on. It's just hard." Stepping back she looked at the school. "Alright, enough waterworks and crazy stunts. You're gonna be late." Ruby nodded and turned away when an angry yell came from behind them. She was about to concede the point to her sister when an angry voice spoke up from behind them.

"Hey!" they both turned to look and found the black hair girl storming towards them, coffee dripping down the front of her clothes and golden eyes narrowed angrily below a dainty black bow perched on her head. To make things even better the security guard was right behind her, two Vele police officers accompanying him.

"Oh look at the time, gotta go!" Ruby said cheerfully as Yang looked like she'd been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. When Yang tried to grab her Ruby grinned and stepped out of her reach. "Hey consider this payback for making me come along on that joyride!"

"Thanks a lot." Yang grumbled and Ruby laughed. Shaking her head she headed into the front courtyard. Things may be difficult but somethings would never change. And she could live with that. Life was interesting that way.

But not as interesting as what brought her to a surpised halt as she stared at the front steps of Signal Academy.

The purple striped cat from earlier was sitting there, staring at her.

AN: And that's chapter two. As I said, there was so much I wanted to get across here and I couldn't figure out what I wanted to say and what needed to stay a mystery at the moment. Not too sure I'm that good at action scenes, but I tried to find the best way to show what I had come up with in my head. The idea of Yang and Ruby riding a motorcycle through a carnival was just too much of an opprotunity to show here. Previous versions just had them sitting in the traffic jam the whole time and that just wasn't as interesting. Also wanted a way to show that the Yang we do know and love is sill there, she's just had some bad things happen.

So I hope this was enjoyable, feel free to let me know, I'm open to suggestions on how I could make this one better. It was a difficult one to write. Up next though, I have high hopes for, had it planned out in my head for a long time and was seriously tempted to write it first. We leave our sisters behind and find out what a certain heiress is up to in Chapter 3: White Legacy. Read and review please!