Higanbana cont
Cold wet rain continued to pressure the face of the frail glass windows, Thor's laughter bellowing over yonder, as the two girls carried on their conversation unbroken by the elements from outside the inn.
"Oooh" Nora tittled in excitement from the stories Ruby told her.
"I never knew they didn't know how they felt about each other...pft..it was so obvious to me..I mean well..I am like best girl. I know these things" came the thunder queen limping her wrist with impish pride, fluttering her eyelids towards the ceiling.
Ruby giggled in response. She looked down at her pad and saw that she managed to write a few words down. Mostly addressed to Yang, lightening the load after talking about such a heavy subject.
Another crack of thunder from outside saw Nora sprung to life. She lept out of bed and while looking over at the sweet slumber of Ren she gestured to Ruby to do the same. "Shh..let's go grab a hot drink and talk further...besides these stories are probably be the only thing close to romance I'll get for now.." now playfully tipping her head towards the opposing bed.
Ruby looked over to see Ren still and quiet. Jaune lay in the bed to the side, both so blissfully unaware and sound asleep. She decided that she wasn't going to get any of the same shut-eye anytime soon so she carefully made her way outside into the lounge area for guests, following behind Nora.
Eye's brought them to two seats on an old, worn out table. Ears brought them solitude and silence. Thirst brought them a duo of liquid; mead to drench their dry throats.
Ruby found the taste quite off-putting, feeling the bitterness dwell in her mouth as she gently lay her bone coloured cup to rest. The sensation finally fleeting not before long.
Nora had already downed her mug and went back for more.
"Delicious...ha ha ha!" the third crack of thunder coming down from outside.
This time Ruby glanced out the window and back at Nora disturbed look across her brow.
How does she do that? she thought to herself.
"So...where were we red?" the orange haired girl asked.
"Talking about my sister and her partner" she responded
The incredulous reply belched out of Nora's mouth. "I know!..but you said blonde had a hard time trying to tell little kitten how she felt, right?"
"She never seemed the one to be open with her feelings. She just flirts a lot."
"I bet she's been with lots and lots right?" Nora cracking an insinuating smile towards the story teller.
"Not really but did you know she brought a guy home once when she was fifteen?" Ruby said peaking her listeners interest. "She brought him home to show Dad, but before he could proclaim his disdain, she socked the guy right in the mouth."
"Haha..why?"
"She didn't care for guys, apparently. She only told me that after we stopped his bleeding and sent him home safe. She told Dad that this guy tried to touch her up at a gas station once, so, enticing him home, she wanted to show our father that she's capable of handling herself."
Her eyes dazzled at the memories of her sister as she thought about her. The stories could run for an eternity.
"So she always makes jokes about 'liking' guys when in reality she just wants to see them push their luck..heh always a spoiler for a fight my big sis."
Nora's grin made Ruby want to continue on.
"Sounds like you both packed a punch as kids. Must have been great being on the same team. Team RWBY!" came the energetic howl from the orange haired girl.
".."
"We totally knew we'd all be get along once we met in the forest that day. Boy talking on those nevermore and death-stalkers felt guuud!" now raising her eyebrows and fists in jubilation.
"Do you think you can get the gang back together Ruby?"
"..I'm not sure."
"What even happened to them all any ways?"
Ruby lowered her eyes in response to Nora's tone. She knew this girl was only trying to keep things light hearted but every time she hears them in the same sentence the overwhelming tension is too much to bare. "...like, you don't even realise!" her hand making rough contact with the table.
The frustrated girl got up and walked over to the window. "That day...that day I woke up. I was told the fate of what happened to them. To my team" Ruby said saddened, her voice wavering over those words.
"I was told Weiss was taken back to Atlas. I'm not even sure if it was against her will or not" her head dropped downwards at the floor.
"...and Blake." she moved her head upwards to look out the window, at a tree in the distance. "..I was told Blake ran away...not a whisper or a why."
She could feel the choke coming out of her own voice.
"I was told there 'doesn't have to be a reason' for her running...and I was told..I was told by my sister to leave her alone...when she probably needed me the most.."
Nora looked on at Ruby's admission, now choosing to lay herself forward on her crossed arms, concealing her mouth.
"...I saw true heartbreak in her eyes. I saw what Blake did to her. I don't hate her..but I only want to know..why?" "Why did she leave my sister behind...will my sister ever forgive her?"
Ruby walked back over to her chair and sat down defeated. She pulled her pen up to her pad again and toyed with the idea. Just toyed with it..
The clock on the wall ticked for what seemed like hours. It was silent. Nora decided to head back to bed. She walked past the table and headed for the bedroom door not before placing a hand on Ruby's shoulder.
"..everything will work out Ruby, you'll see..try to get some sleep."
The slouched girl stayed silent as her team mate closed the door. She looked up at the table. At the three empty chairs surrounding it. She thought back to when the last time all of her team were together. Inside that dorm room, discussing their disqualification from the tournament, defending Yang from those hideous claims. She didn't want to let her sister down. She didn't want to let her team down. Ruby gave a determined expression. Picking up her pen, she decided to lay waste to the her paper, continuing the letter addressed to Patch.