Chapter 5 – Friends and Family

Yang noticed something wrong with her sister lately. Since the past few weeks, Ruby kept disappearing to nowhere and return at midnight. As much as she would like to think positive, she worried that her sister might be in trouble.

Christmas is just around the corner. Every students couldn't wait the event of the year. But for team RWBY, they're worried about their missing leader. Ruby would find an excuse to avoid them and head to the city. She's hardly seen hanging out with her team mates even with her own sister.

During recess, Yang keep playing her food. She had no intention on eating. She keep thinking about her sister. Blake noticed the depressed look on her partner's face, "Are you okay?" she ask in concern.

"Ruby…"

"You're not the only one who worried about her, Yang…" Weiss said. The heiress herself worried of her partner's well being. They're lucky there're no classes since Christmas is drawing near. Team JNPR are quite aware of their situation. "Have you asked her?" Ren said.

"We tried but she got away before we could say anything…" Blake answered.

"If she's in trouble, she should've told us. She kept enough secret from us before. I don't want another misunderstanding…" Yang sigh. Her food is left untouched. Pyrrha assured them, "I'm sure it's nothing serious. Don't worry about her so much…"

"I hope what you say is true, Pyrrha…" Yang reply and gets up, leaving her team mates looking at her in concern.

As usual, Ruby return on 12 midnight sharp. She slowly open the door. Her team mates are fast asleep. After she change into her pajamas, she climb up to her bed. She pick up her pillow and take the pouch underneath it. She open the pouch and turn it upside down. A bunch of Lien fall on her bed.

She begin to count it all. After she finish counting, she frowns. "It's not enough…." She muttered.

"What's not enough?" Ruby screamed a little and turn to meet her partner's blue eyes. She quickly hide the Lien and the pouch under her pillow. Weiss curiously peak over Ruby's shoulder, however, she couldn't see what she's hiding.

"N-nothing!" she answered. Weiss sigh, "Ruby, if you're in trouble, please tell us. We're worried about you. You keep disappearing to nowhere and return at midnight. We don't want the same thing happens again…"

Ruby give her a guilty look. She's hesitated to tell her partner. She sigh, "I'm sorry for making you guys worried. But I didn't do anything bad. I got my own reason. I promise I will tell you guys sooner or later."

"Okay, but you have to tell Yang yourself. She's worry sick about you. Goodnight…"

"Goodnight…" After Weiss return to her bed, Ruby quickly keep the Liens in the pouch and cover it with her pillow. She still think it wasn't enough. However, she put aside the thought and slowly close her eyes.

Although Ruby explained everything to her, Yang is not satisfied with the answer. She doesn't understand what would Ruby keep something from her. Then, an idea appear, "Sorry, sis. Looks like I'm going to dig into your diary…"

After Ruby left their dorm, Yang quickly rummaging her sister's luggage. Weiss and Blake stare at the blonde's behavior, "I suggest you shouldn't invade her privacy, Yang," Blake said.

"I won't rest till I find out what Ruby's been doing lately. Christmas is drawing near and I want to know immediately!" Yang open every single suitcase of Ruby's including herself in case the red-haired girl keep her diary in her luggage. However, she found nothing.

"Have you checked her bed?" Weiss suggested.

"Why don't you check since you're her partner?" Blake replied. Still, the heiress proceed onto her partner's bed. She look under the pillow but there's nothing. She checked under the sheet and found a black book with a red rose imprinted on the cover. "Is this it?" she ask.

She handed the book to Yang. The blonde girl settle down next to her partner. Weiss joins in and sit next to Yang. She hesitated to open since she never touch her sister's diary. She slowly open and look for the latest entry. "Most of it was about the mission we've been through," Weiss said.

"Let's skip to the back, shall we?" Yang turn the pages over till they reach an entry that caught their attention;

Dear Diary, Christmas is just around the corner. I can't wait for this event of the year! But I feel sad at the same time. I don't know what to give my friends this year. Despite the secrets I've kept from them, they accepted me as who I am. I wish to give them something. But what could possibly they wanted so much? I wish I know what it is before Christmas.

Yang turn to the next page and the three of them proceed on reading the next entry;

Dear Diary, while I went to the city with Jaune and Pyrrha, I came across with beautiful pendants at the jewelry store. I was thinking on buy them for my team mates but it's too expensive! Jaune and Pyrrha said they would help me but I told them I would get something else for my team mates. I guess I need to figure something else to give them.

The three girls are touched by the entry. Weiss turn to the next and read the next entry;

Dear Diary, on my last solo mission, I came across a cave which have lots of beautiful crystals inside. I went inside the cave but there's a Deathstalker in there. Luckily, it didn't think of me as a threat. So I manage to bring back a couple of crystals. I decided to make my own pendant for my friends. They deserve something in return after what they did for me, especially my sister. I owed them so much.

"She brought back crystals? How come we didn't found it?" Yang muttered. Blake and Weiss shrugged. The raven haired girl turn to the next entry;

Dear Diary, I didn't have the tools and a couple of stuff to make a pendant. I went to the craft shop and wow, I didn't know the items and the tools are expensive! I didn't have enough Lien to buy them all. I would ask Yang but she helped me enough. So I need to help myself this time. I found a vacancy at a dust shop. So I decided to work till I get enough Lien to buy the tools.

Yang's eyes widen in shock. "She's….working?" She mumbled to herself. She turn to the next page. The three of them gasp as they read the entry;

Yang, Weiss and Blake, I know you guys would look for this diary so I hid it under my bed sheet on purpose. So now you've known what I've been doing all along. I know you guys wouldn't wanted me to work but I can't rely on you guys so much. Plus, you guys should deserve something. You're the best team mates that a leader could ever have. And I'm sorry for keeping it a secret. But I promised you three that it'll be the best present you'd ever have.

-Ruby

Yang close the black covered book and place it on the bookshelf. She lay down on Blake's bed. Weiss and Blake watches the blonde sigh in relief. "Well, at least she's not in trouble…." she muttered to herself.

It's the night before Christmas. Professor Ozpin informed the students to gather at the courtyard for the Christmas party. Yang, Weiss and Blake are there but there's no sign of their leader among the crowd. Most of them are exchanging gifts with each other.

The three girls walk through the crowd and head towards a giant Christmas tree. Blake caught a glimpse of a puppy sitting under a tree with a colorful box next to it and wears a Christmas hat. The cat girl quickly brought her partner and the heiress to the tree.

"Guys, you made it!" The pup exclaims.

"Aww, you're so cute~!" Yang quickly pull her into a tight hug. Weiss and Blake smiled. "Where did you get that hat, Ruby?" Blake ask.

"Ozpin said I should be the Christmas pup! So he gave me this hat!" she said. Yang chuckle. The red and black coated Grimm push the box to her friends. She sit up and wag her tail playfully. She patiently wait for one of them to open the gift.

Yang slowly open the wrapper of the gift. The three of them look at the Grimm before continue to open the lid. They gasp as they saw three beautiful necklaces inside the box. A blue necklace shaped of snowflake, a yellow necklace shaped of flame and a black necklace shaped of belladonna flower. "Ruby, you made these?!" Weiss ask.

"Yup! Took a while for me to find it and carve it all. Especially Blake's one though since I have to go deeper into the cave. But the carving that eat most of my time. Well, here you go! I carved my own too! See?" The Grimm show them a red necklace shaped of rose. Yang is slightly touched.

"You…went all the trouble….to made us these…?" the blonde said. Ruby nod. "Like I said, you guys deserve something. And you've been so kind to me even though I'm part Grimm. This is the only way I could say thanks…"

The four of them engage in a group hug. Ruby yelps. Weiss murmured, "Thanks, Ruby. It's beautiful…."

They didn't realize Nora is holding a mistletoe over their heads. The brunette poke her head out of the Christmas tree. Ren, Pyrrha and Jaune pass by and saw what their team mate is doing. After the three girls release their leader, Pyrrha taps Weiss' shoulder and point her finger upward. Ruby shifted to normal, giving the scarlet haired girl a puzzled look.

The RWBY girls look upwards and saw Nora holding a mistletoe above them. Yang and Weiss glare at each other. Ruby tilted her head sideways and stare at the plant. "What's that?" she ask.

"It's a mistletoe, Ruby," Blake answered. Yang and Weiss are busy growling at each other. Ruby glance at the cat girl next to her. She smile and kiss her cheek. Blake jumped a little but she give the younger girl a smile.

Yang and Weiss realized what had happened, feel slightly depressed. Blake giggles. Suddenly, Ruby take their arms and pull them away from the tree. "C'mon, the fireworks are starting!" She said. After they reach a clearing, she shift herself into Grimm and lie down. Her team mates join in and lay on her side.

"Hey, can we join too?!" Nora shouted from a distant. Team JNPR running towards them and immediately join with the three girls. Ruby was about to place her tail on them as blankets when they heard a couple of voice calling them. "Would you mind let us sit here and enjoy the view?" Ozpin ask. Ruby nodded.

After everyone leaned on her side, various of colorful fireworks appear in the sky. Ruby howled in the bright moon. Her team mates howl along with their leader. Team JNPR later followed. Professor Ozpin and Glynda watch the two teams with a smile.

"Merry Christmas, everyone!" Ruby said in her usual cheery voice. "Merry Christmas!" Everyone say in unison.

Author's Note

I really have no idea about this story actually. But I would like to make a Christmas special even though it turns out like a crap. However, I tried my best. And I'm not impressed with this one. Well, Merry Christmas everyone! Au revoir~!