Weiss took the handkerchief from Mercury, dabbing away the remnants of her tears. "Thanks you very much, it has been an emotional few weeks."

"No problem at all, I can only imagine." Mercury's tone refreshingly nonchalant, his laid back attitude very obvious in comparison to the rest of the uptight guests. The two stood on a balcony overlooking the main party, the guests below simply going about their evening. "So what has you so upset, I think I saw your friend back there, did you get into a fight?" Weiss hesitated to answer, he has been kind enough so far, it might be good to get some of it off my chest.

"More or less," a small sigh escaping Weiss, "just the result of some things that have been on my mind for a while now." Mercury simply shrugged, Weiss thankful for his lack of prying. Not the stereotypical gossip fuelled noble then. The two stood in silence for a few moments, simply observing the party below them.

"Shouldn't you be down there with your guests, it is your party after all?"

"Ugh, I can't stand these things, it's so… Boring, everyone is so fake, no one says anything real."

"I know how you feel, that's one of the reasons I haven't been attending these things lately." Mercury smirked in response, "Yeah, was pretty surprised that the super serious Lady Schnee would ever attend this party." Weiss huffed,

"Why not, I like going to parties, and I'm not super serious."

"Sure you are, you have barely been seen recently. What was it, three, four months since you last travel out into the world?" A sarcastic smirk punctuating Mercury's accusation,

"Well I have been extremely busy,"

"Doing super serious work."

"My Father died and left me in control of all his estates, I think I have a perfectly good excuse for being a bit pre-occupied!"

"Sorry," Mercury's eyes falling to his feet. Weiss sighed,

"Don't worry about it, I have had enough apologies and condolences to last a lifetime. I'm not one to mourn." Weiss now being the one to cast her eyes off into the distance. A smile sprang to Mercury's face,

"Refreshing,"

"What?"

"I said refreshing, you are a very interesting girl Ms Schnee."

"T-thank you." The two stood there for a while, content to have some company that didn't bore them. Mercury eventual straightened his suit and spoke, "it can be tough dealing with everything by yourself. Hell I couldn't imagine managing all my families affairs, wouldn't have a moment to myself. Not saying you can't do it, I imagine you are probably doing fine. If you do need a hand with any business problems though, feel free to send for me."

"Maybe I will, thank you Mr Black."

"Please, call me Mercury." With an over dramatic bow he left, a sinister grin forming on his lips as he left, one that Weiss missed.

Weiss went searching for Ruby, she dreaded it, yet Ruby was her responsibility. She wandered through the crowd, politely moving through the many couples that danced to the slow music. Weiss scanned with trained eyes, desperate to find the girl in red. Either Ruby had surpassed Weiss in her hiding skills, or she wasn't there. Eventually she stumbled into Ren and Nora, "Weiss, I imagine you're looking for Ruby."

"Yes, I take it you have seen her," Weiss said with impatience. Ren examined her quickly before speaking, "yes, she told me to inform you that she was leaving to visit her Father and sister."

"I-I see… Well I think I shall also make my leave." Weiss turned and left the ballroom, a deep stomach twisting sadness setting in as she made her way to the carriage.

Ruby sat on her bed, her red dress long since discarded, replaced by a simple set of loose pants and shirt. Her room was dark, old wood making up the interior of most of their new home. Her father had sold their old home, no one being able to return to it and live in the place where Summer Rose had died. The new home was still foreign to her, it had not been lived in long enough for there to be any real personal effects. It didn't feel like a home, and Ruby felt that it probably never would. To her she was visiting, it wasn't her room. Her room was back at the Schnee Manor, the well-furnished basement where she had started her Assassin training.

Ruby couldn't go back now, as much as she wanted too she couldn't go back. So she had come here, hoping that a little time away would help. She knew that Yang would be happy to see her return, her father too. She knew Yang would tell her how happy she was, that Ruby was no longer involved with Weiss and the Assassins. Her father was just happy to see her, even though she caught him trying not to look at her. She asked Yang about it, she had said it was probably something to do with Ruby looking so much like Summer. A whole day staying with them and Ruby already felt like she didn't belong, as much as she loved her family, deep down she knew that this isn't where she was supposed to be.

Nothing made her happier in those few days than leaving at night, dressed in her combat gear. She would walk the rooftops, take in the night air, and if necessary help someone if they needed it. Even in the social super centre that was London, the streets were still rife with trouble after the sun set.

She had talked to Ren, tried to find something to occupy her time. It seemed that he would likely take over the order, yet for the time being it was clear that the order was still in disarray, so there was no Assassin work. Thus Ruby was forced into vigilantism. At least it took her mind off the kiss.

Every day that passed, the Schnee business seemed to get into more trouble, become more of an burden. Weiss often wondered how her father had dealt with all of the work, and also be head of the Assassins. He probably didn't have as many problems, must have been much easier being scary. Without a doubt her father's cold composure, his menacing glare of disapproval, kept the workers in line. They would have never questioned him, they just worked, and he paid them. Why can't it be so simple now?

Of course she knew that being a woman had something to do with it. She just was not an authority figure, a small nineteen year old girl in charge of one of the most prominent houses in England. Even if her ideas were sound, her proposals well thought out, they always came into question. Marrying someone would solve her problems, he didn't have to be smart, just had to have been born into good standing with reasonable wealth. He would become her mouthpiece, she would manage the business and he would simply make everything easier to enact.

She hadn't seen Ruby in days, and for the first time, Weiss started giving the idea of a husband a serious thought. She paced up and down her office for hours, mind flicking through all the suitors who had come forward. It was difficult to stay focused, constant distractions presented themselves, the need for dusting, the lack of symmetry on her desk. She spent most of her time tidying the office rather than considering her marriage. Weiss sighed, her hand drifting to her face to trace the scar over her eye. "I need some fresh air," she said to no one in particular.

A few minutes later Weiss was leaping over the rooftops, her white Assassin gear wrapping her in a blanket of security. Whilst in the office taking care of the business felt like an act, out in the night air she felt at home. Weiss knew the city well, she felt she could probably traverse most of it blindfolded. With her body busy climbing and dashing, her mind was free to think clearly. I am a complete idiot. Out here the thought of marriage seemed preposterous, she didn't need any help, she could handle herself.

Ruby jumped down to the streets, having seen a thief run off with someone else's hard earned money. Ruby had dealt with a lot of thieves recently, thankful that all she usually needed to do was threaten them and they would give up the gold. Sticking to the sides of the streets Ruby managed to sneak up on the unsuspecting crook. He stood in an alley way, a side street that ended, one way in one way out, not even a chase.

"Excuse me, but that doesn't belong to you," Ruby standing with hand resting on her sabre. The man spun, his fingers clutching the pouch of money tightly. He stared wide eyed at Ruby, slowly backing away. "This doesn't have to be hard, give the money back and everyone will be happy."

The man's eyes widened further, his gaze seeming to travel past Ruby. She heard a soft thump behind her and turned. Standing in the entrance of the side street stood a girl in a brown corset, with multi coloured eyes. Ruby took a step back, she pulled her sabre out slowly, "you… Your back." Ruby's voice quiet, hesitant. The girl smiled, yet there was no compassion behind it, only malice. With the flick of her wrist a blade appeared from the intricately designed parasol, and she lunged.

Weiss closed her eyes, letting the cool breeze wash over her. She knew what she wanted to do, what she had too. Kissing Ruby was not something that Weiss could forget, it was a feeling that she would never be able to emulate. The family name meant little to her, the business was boring and unfulfilling. She didn't need to lead the Assassin's either, she didn't need anything holding her down. For the first time in her life she could be free of any responsibility, whether it be vengeance for her sister's death, duty to her family or otherwise. Her path was set, she would fight, kicking and screaming to find the happiness she needed. To hell with it all, time to do something for myself.

With a new spring in her step Weiss danced over the rooftops, her graceful well practiced movements hiding her from the sight of any passers-by below her. Weiss' first goal was to find Ruby, so she started in the direction of the Xiao Long house.

Ruby backed against the wall of the alley, her sabre flashing in front for her as she desperately deflected the needle like blade. Ruby was fast, and most of the Neo's strike she managed to avoid or parry. Yet Ruby was no master swordswoman, and this woman was easily the more proficient fencer. Her blade was unfamiliar to Ruby, managing to pass through her defences will eloquent precision, delivering a series of stabs. Each failed block ended in a short stinging, the slender blade slowly poking holes in Ruby. I can't beat her like this.

Ruby threw a wild swing, her opponent being forced to step back in order to avoid the swipe. With more space she changed her stance, her once fast and agile fighting style slowly devolving. She unleashed a series of anger fuelled downward strikes, her larger blade battering away the slender needle of the Templar girl. Channelling as much of her sister as she could, Ruby let out a scream of anger as she brought her sabre down with as much force as possible. Metal sounded against stone as her sabre passed through the air. The moment of her swing pushing her forward, causing her to stumble past Neo. Her footing failed her as Neo swiped her legs out from underneath Ruby. She turned quickly and raised her sabre to block Neo's jab, her position on the ground making her job harder.

Neo's face held a sickening smile, her eyes alight with satisfaction as she pressed her advantage. Vengeance was fun, it was motivating and at times a little frustrating. Yet Neo eagerly waited for the moment where Ruby would lie dead at her feet, and that moment was coming soon. She aimed her blade at the handle of her opponent's sabre, her thin blade slicing into Ruby's hand.

She let out a small yelp as she dropped her sword, now defenceless. She scrambled quickly, crawling to on her hands and knees away from Neo, the blood slicking her hand. She rolled as the Templar girl brought down her blade, the point sliding in between the cobbles of the road. It gave her enough time to start running. Ruby flew past the houses that lined the streets, most of their lights now extinguished. She could hear footsteps behind her, but she dared not look.

Against her better judgment Ruby called out, "Help! Someone help!" It would be hard explaining what was happening to anyone, or if they would even survive a few seconds in the presence of Neo, but she needed an advantage to take her down. Ruby spared a glance to the houses around her, hopeful for signs of movement, but nothing stirred. She ran towards the nearest building, leaping and grasping onto the window panels and dragging herself upwards. Her right hand slipped, the gash across her knuckles still streaming blood. Her muscles ached, but she pushed through and climbed onto the roof.

Weiss heard the frantic cries for help. She moved quickly, something about the voice compelling her to move faster. Suddenly another figure climbed onto the rooftops, dressed in red and black, with a hood similar to Weiss'. "Ruby…" Weiss' voice barley a whisper, she broke into a sprint. "Ruby! Over here!"

"Weiss!?" Ruby's reply a mixture of exhaustion and elation. The two rushed towards each other, deftly navigating the rooftops between them. Weiss studied the girl running towards her, and noticed her wounds. "Ruby, what's happening?"

"N-neo is back, and she is right behind me." Ruby was clearly out of breath, and Weiss observed the lack of her sabre. Looking past her she saw Neo, who was now also traversing the rooftops in their direction. "Ruby, get to the manor quickly I can hold her off,"

"Uh that's a horrible plan if we take her together than we have the advantage." Ruby turned to face Neo alongside Weiss, Weiss just sighed in resignation. "Fine, just let me take most of the hits, at least I have a sword."

"I will never hear the end of this will I."

"You forgot lessons one of the first lessons of fencing, don't lose your sword. So yes, it would seem that your training might have to be more intensive in this area." Weiss grinned, she had missed this. Ruby let out a small whine of annoyance, but she too couldn't hide her smile. Standing side by side against the enemy, was what they were best at.

Author's note: Hello everyone, sorry for the long wait in between chapters. University got pretty busy and then I had to go on holiday's away from the sweet embrace of wifi. Have no fear though, the story will resume a more regular updating schedule now. Thanks for reading, reviewing and all that jazz.
P.S I have a new story going on, Firefly AU! The cast of RWBY takes on the big bad verse' so if that's your cup of tea then give it a look.