Sorry it took so long to get this up (that's what he said), but I was sick all weekend, and I just didn't want to write...today however I buckled down and wrote and with my sad songs I made this chapter...I hope you enjoy...I know I enjoyed writing it.

Bloody Roses

Knives sat there a little impressed that "Princess" Weiss decided to step up and take on the Grim. He knew it would be entertaining to watch so he turned off his music to actually listen in. Weiss' team cheered her on, and Deverou did the same, "You shall prevail Lady Weiss, remember your training!"

Ruby chimed in and Weiss immediately yelled at her. Knives frowned and continued to glance around the room. His foreboding sense of dread was kicking in and he felt as if he was being watched. There was something wrong with the room; it didn't smell right to him. He looked at the red-head and he saw her staring back at him. She hadn't even bothered to focus on Weiss. The fight ensued and was quickly over as she stormed out and Ruby followed like a lost puppy. He followed as the crowd of classmates swarmed out. He saw Ruby being yelled at by Weiss as she stormed off. Ozpin walked up, and Knives simply leaned against a locker. He waited until their discussion was over before going in. "Hello Professor."

"Hello again Knives, how are you enjoying your team so far?" Ozpin inquired.

Ruby stood there and watched them converse and he became a little nervous. "Uh they're fine…sir…a little rough around the edges, and…I do feel you made a mistake on leader…" Knives stated.

"Oh? I was talking to Miss Rose about the same thing."

"Well, the thing is…Luxus would make a better leader…he's smart, he's determined, and he united us…I think he deserves it more than I do…" Knives said, fumbling with his words.

"This is true, but around you Luxus exhibits the behavior of a follower. He does not see himself as your leader…he sees himself as your follower…and the others follow Luxus…so don't be so hard on yourself…they realize your talents. Have some faith in yourself." Ozpin responded with a warm smile.

"Thank you, sir." Knives said.

"Now I believe both of you should go on to class." Ozpin replied.

"Okay Professor!" Ruby said as she began to walk off and Knives followed.

They walked in silence for a while before she spoke up, "So are you having better dreams?"

"Huh?

"Your dreams…the first night we were here, you screamed…a lot. Is everything ok?"

He remembered the white room and Johann's laughter and the pain, and he could feel himself being pulled in, but he shook his head of the thoughts and noticed Ruby looking at him. "Uh, yeah…bad dreams are all they are…nothing serious…"

She looked at him skeptically as he looked on rigidly on their walk to class. They reached their class and she stopped him from entering the room by standing in front of the door, "Look, when you feel up for telling me feel free to…and just so you know…I think you'd make a great leader."

He smiled, "I think you will too…don't let Weiss get to you…she's a little spoiled."

Ruby scoffed, "A little?"

He smiled, "Maybe more than that…anyway, can I get to class…I'm going to be late."

They both entered the room and took their seats and he felt it again…eyes on him…he saw the red-head and the short girl both staring at him. The short girl saw him and glanced away, but the red-head held her gaze. He waved politely before going back to recording the lectures and listening to music. At the end of his classes, he decided to take a walk in the central courtyard. He knew the red-head had been following him, but he thought he'd give her a run for her money. He walked casually over to a rose bush and began to smell. It was then, that he figured it out. The distinct scent was all over the roses. He plucked one and felt over it until he found what he was looking for…blood. She approached him cautiously and he heard the shift in gravel, the shallow breathing, the soft metallic sound of a knife being drawn. He turned to face her and she charged. He simply grabbed her wrist and spun her around, twisting it behind her back to inflict great amounts of pain. She dropped the knife, and he drove his left thumb into her side beneath the ribcage and twisted. She gasped in pain and he looked at her face blankly.

"Why did you do it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about!" She cried angrily.

"My mother you bitch; why did you kill her!?"

"How did you?"

"I couldn't quite pick out where I knew the scent from, but taking me into the rose garden, where you smeared her blood as a trophy…that was really dumb…granted you were smart enough to kill her in her home, judging by the smell of particle board and grimy dirt…because no police man in their right mind would go into District 103…but why in the hell would you do it…some intricate revenge plan? Sure I hated my mother…but why? I haven't done anything to you…"

"Your ANCESTOR ruined my family, my country! He destroyed everything we had…left us poor and destitute…"

"And you think my life was peachy-keen? You saw my house…my ancestor was thought of as a tyrant not a Hero…his descendants were seen as monsters because of our special aura techniques…I was ostracized, beat up, and sold as a slave before I was even six! You think you had it rough? Grow up! Now tell me the real reason you killed her!"

The girl bit her lip and looked away…that was it…she had killed his mother because of some foolish blood-feud…he hung his head and sighed, releasing her. "Did she at least get a proper burial?"

"Yes…I may hate your family, but I am no monster!"

"Well thank you…it was more than anyone else in that district would have done…to be honest I'm happy it was you and not some mugger…I'm guessing since you know my heritage you know about me…"

"Only your sword and your name were necessary…I'm…I'm sorry…" She struggled to say, "My family…they expected me to end your life but…I cannot…you have done nothing to me personally, and you seem to have had a rough go of it as it is…I will not bother you further."

As she walked away Knives asked the question that was nagging at him, "What is your name?"

"Luna…Luna Moonstream."

He got on his knees and bowed his head, "Luna Moonstream, I swear on my name and the name of my ancestor I will atone for the atrocities he committed on your house."

Her expression was a mask of happiness and embarrassment. "I…um…thanks, can you stand up now?"

Knives stood and she shook his hand and took off. Luxus appeared around the pillar he'd been hiding behind, "Was that truly necessary?"

"She wouldn't have trusted me otherwise…"

"Well this is why I'm glad you're the leader…to be honest I don't know if I could have showed the restraint you did…" He replied with a grim face.

"Me too…this year is going to be a long one isn't it?"

"It'll probably be annoying too…"

"I second that…" He looked at the roses and plucked a few. "I have to go…"

It was a long walk to District 103…luckily his fame preceded him, because when they saw the bloody knives insignia on his gloves or jacket, people cleared a path for him. He stopped at his old house, drawing back the curtain they had for a door, and saw what Luna had done. The walls didn't have any blood on them; it was as clean as it had been when he had left. The dirt was undisturbed except for the patch with a tombstone that simply had engraved on it, "Here lies Mary Blut…descendant of Alexei Blut, the Bloody."

He place the roses at the stone, "Hey mom…I know you acted like you didn't care if I ever came home…and you were probably too drunk or too busy to notice or care I was gone…but…I did miss you…the few nights when you were sober…or still drunk, and you would comfort me when I was hurt or sick…" He began to tear up, "I'm sorry you had to die…and I'm sorry I didn't get to say goodbye…or how much I really loved you…I always complained or joked about my raging alcoholic mother and her switch…but you weren't like that at all…you protected me…and we had a hard life, so you drank…but you always made time for me…I love you mom…I just wanted you to know that." He cut his hand and let the blood flow over her grave, "So I was blood of your blood, in death you are closer to Heaven." He poured a flask of whiskey over her gave as well, "I know you would've wanted…one last drink…goodbye…"

He stepped out of the house and did what he had to do. He flipped open his lighter, and lit a single cigarette, before setting the small shack of a house ablaze. He walked through the streets back to Beacon. His head jumbled and his heart heavy, before making it back to his room. He stopped before the door and went down the hallway to where Ruby Rose was and knocked gently on the door. She had a fresh made cup of coffee in hand, "Knives…my god, are you ok?"

"Remember when you asked if I was alright? I lied…I'm not ok…"

"Do you…wanna talk about it?" She said nervously.

"Yeah…I know this is…unnerving, but…can we talk in the garden?"

They went to the garden, and he told his story...and he knew, she would never look at him the same.

*Wipes tears from eyes* Well I know that made me cry...probably because it played out well in my head...it might not be so good, but hey I liked it and that's all that matters! Please review.