CHAPTER 9:

Sisters

"You need to make up with your sister."

Ruby had known it was coming. It had only been a couple days, but already, Team RWBY felt like it was falling apart. Yang refused to talk to her, and whenever Ruby caught Yang looking at her, it was a look filled with anger and regret. A mish-mash of terrible emotions stemming from a terrible moment. She could tell Blake was doing everything she could to get Yang to talk with her again, but that only made the chasm more apparent.

Ruby sighed as she looked over Beacon Academy from her spot on the roof. It was so quiet up here. She wished it was quieter.

"I can't, Weiss. Yang is right. Something is wrong with me."

Weiss was Ruby's only saving grace so far. She had managed to keep everyone together during exercises and classes, but that all fell apart the moment either Ruby or Yang had a moment to themselves. They evaded each other, barely even looked at each other, and the few moments they did have when they were together were tense and dangerous.

And Weiss was already tired of it.

Weiss stepped closer to the ledge. "I wasn't asking, Ruby. You can't stay up here forever."

The wind was so nice. It was cool against her warm skin. Ever since healing from fully opening and using her circuits, Ruby had felt hot. The kind of hot that was like holding a hand warmer, except it was her entire body. She barely felt the cold of fall turning into winter anymore. Even her mind felt clearer than it had since before her dreams had gotten stronger.

But a clear mind also meant every problem she was facing felt bigger than ever.

"Do you know what it's like?" Ruby asked. "Having to figure out a part of you you've never known before? To fight with yourself? To want to curl into a ball so tight you stop existing?"

She heard Weiss sigh. "Everyone goes through those things, Ruby. It's part of growing up. You're still young—younger than us. Everyone has arguments. Things get out of hand. I get it."

"Do you really?" Ruby whispered. "Because I don't. I don't get any of it and it hurts, Weiss. I have all these feelings swirling inside me. I don't understand half of them because I've never experienced them. Don't you know I love Yang? She's been my anchor since Mom died. I never even really knew her. But Yang did. So why does it hurt to think about yesterday? Why does it feel like I'm angry and sad and like I'm breaking every time I look at Yang now? Why?"

Weiss watched Ruby turn to her with wide glassy eyes as tears streamed down her face. "What do I do? I can't talk to her, Weiss. I can't even figure myself out. I still feel like I'm burning up. Like my mind is on fire, even though everything feels razor sharp. Like the moment I do anything, I'll break it again." Ruby then laughed softly as her voice cracked.

She looked down at her hands and turned them into fists. "I don't know anymore. I'm sorry, Weiss. I'm sorry I'm the worst. You don't deserve a partner or leader like me. It's okay. Just leave me—"

"No."

"H-huh?"

Weiss marched over to Ruby, and Ruby's head snapped to the side. A light gasp escaped Ruby as her hand flew up to her stinging cheek in shock. Meeting Weiss' eyes, Ruby couldn't help but flinch at the sharpness she saw in them.

"Stop it," said Weiss. "Stop talking like it's the end of the world. Stop talking like you're not Team RWBY's leader. And stop talking as if you're the only one in the world who's gone through something like this. It's infuriating."

Ruby rubbed at her eyes and wiped away her tears before staring at Weiss. "Weiss…"

"Jeez," Weiss muttered. She proceeded to sit next to Ruby on the ledge, Ruby's eyes following her the entire time. "All of your moping is incredibly annoying. You're supposed to be the optimistic one, remember? Why am I the one cheering you up? This is ridiculous."

"Weiss, what are you—"

"Zip it. It's my time to talk." Weiss sighed and turned to look Ruby in the eyes. "Are you ready to listen?"

Ruby nodded. Weiss rolled her eyes.

"I have a sister too, as you already know. Her name's Winter. Older sister to me, just like you and Yang. She's cool and collected—The exact opposite of your sister. We don't talk much right now, not with Beacon and everything, but I love my sister. She's everything I want to be and more. She took care of me when my own parents couldn't. Winter cares a lot about me too. Whenever she can, she asks me how I'm doing. Sound familiar?"

Ruby nodded silently, and Weiss nodded back. "The thing is, Winter and I, we love talking to each other, but we don't always agree. She doesn't get loud too often, but I can tell when she's disappointed. When she doesn't like what I'm doing. And if she does yell, then I'm likely in a worse position than I thought. We have our falling outs too."

Weiss glanced over to make sure Ruby was listening, and found that her eyes still hadn't looked away from Weiss. With a cough, Weiss recomposed herself. "Simply put, even I get terrified of my sister. Terrified of talking to her when things go bad. Those thoughts you said out loud are normal, Ruby. I don't know how you went this long without having an argument like this, but this can't—shouldn't affect the fact that you and Yang are sisters.

"You are sisters, Ruby," Weiss said, looking Ruby in the eyes once more. "Don't let one argument ruin a relationship that should last a lifetime. I know what it's like to have family drift away. And I hate it. I hate it completely and utterly. There is nothing worse."

Awkwardly, Weiss reached over and put what she hoped was a comforting hand on Ruby's shoulder, and squeezed. Ruby took a breath she didn't know she was holding and blinked, looking between Weiss and her hand that was on her shoulder. Weiss' words were still registering in her mind, but Ruby knew she was right. It was a fact she knew, and yet she had forgotten it in all of her worrying.

Before she could think, Ruby launched herself at Weiss and wrapped her in a tight hug. Weiss, for her part, was able to control her reaction to the point where she only stiffened before relaxing, but it was a hard thing. The warmth radiating from Ruby was like a warm stove, or even a furnace, and in the cooling autumn air, it was comfortable. And then Ruby began to shake, and Weiss found her arms wrapping around the girl just as tightly.

"Thank you, Weiss," Ruby said, her voice shaky. "I really needed to hear that. I didn't know you had a sister…A-and you're right. That was the first time I ever argued with Yang like that and…I'm glad you're my partner."

Weiss pat Ruby awkwardly on the back. She knew she was being cried on. She also knew she would likely regret it for her clothes later, but it was also the first time a…friend had ever leaned on her like this. And she knew Ruby needed her right now.

It was nice, being needed.

"Alright, that's enough," Weiss said. Gently, she pried Ruby away from her and rubbed the girl's shoulders. "You'll be alright, Ruby. You're tough. You're our leader. And the leader of Team RWBY should be able to unify her team, right?"

Ruby, with puffy eyes and a new spark to her emotions, smiled. A brilliant smile that made Weiss smile herself.

"Yes!"

They stood at the door to their dorm. Ruby stared resolutely at the knob, her hand outstretched and ready to turn it. But she was frozen. She couldn't make the last few inches to unlock the door. A cold sweat had begun to form despite the uncomfortable warmth she had grown accustomed to since her circuits had opened.

Since she and Yang had argued—

Ruby felt a hand on her shoulder. The comforting presence she had grown accustomed to since Initiation weeks before. The person she had started growing to trust. The one who stood by her side even when she was annoying, loud, and crass. When she was prideful and arrogant.

Weiss. Her grip was reassuring, and when she turned to look back at her, she could see Weiss nod in equal force. She wouldn't leave her alone.

Ruby opened the door. The voices she and Weiss had heard before immediately silenced themselves as it swung open. They found Blake standing with her hands on hips practically growling at Yang, who sat against her desk with a bored but simmering look. A look that immediately went wide with surprise before it scrunched, and she looked away.

"Ruby," Blake said. "You…" She saw Weiss and blinked. "Weiss. You convinced Ruby to come back."

Weiss couldn't help but smirk. "Of course. I keep to my word, Blake Belladonna."

"Of course."

Ruby missed all of this, as her sole focus was on Yang. Her sister, who had claimed that she loved their Mom more than Ruby did. Her sister who was just as fallible as anyone else. And her, Ruby, who was reckless and uncaring, and had so callously forced her sister to watch as she imploded. Ruby knew they were both wrong. But just because they were both in the wrong, didn't mean they couldn't make up.

They were both right in their own ways. Ruby recognised that.

But she just wanted her sister back.

"Yang."

She watched as Yang stiffened in response to her name. She said it again. "Yang. Please."

When Yang refused to answer, Ruby felt her soul tremor, and she clenched her fists. No, she wouldn't back away again. She had to face this full force. It was her sister. Her family. She wouldn't let go. Not for anything.

"I've been stupid. Really stupid. I didn't know how much it hurt you to see me hurting myself. I didn't even think about it, you know? I just thought that it was the same as every other time I got hurt. I thought we could laugh it off. That you would be there for me like always. So when you yelled and said those things, I…"

Ruby felt her throat swell, like her words were ready to spill out. Like everything was ready to spill out, and she was ready to cry again. But she bit her tongue and took a deep, shaky breath. She needed to say what she needed to say, and she needed Yang to hear it clearly.

"I hurt you, Yang. I'm sorry. I still don't know everything that's happening to me, but…I don't want us to be like this anymore. I don't want to fight. I don't want you to stop talking to me, so please…"

Ruby watched as Yang turned. Tears were forming in Yang's eyes, but Ruby met them all the same. Ruby then spread out her arms in a weak stance.

"Hug?"

At that, Yang's tears began to fall freely as she chuckled. "Apology accepted, sis. Now get over here so I can keep protecting you."

Ruby rushed towards that familiar warmth that even her own couldn't match. The strength that she was accustomed to. The love she knew Yang had for her. It was great. It was amazing. She missed it, even if it was just for a day. Her soul was ringing. Some part of her, the Shirou part of her, was grinning wild. And she was happy.

"I'm sorry too, Ruby," Ruby heard Yang say. "I was dumb too. You loved Mom just as much as me. I had no right to say that. And it's your life. Even if you get hurt, I can't always be there to protect you. You're growing up. I need to remember that."

Their hug tightened, and Ruby began to cry for the third time that day.

"Love you, Yang."

"Love you, Rubes."

Meanwhile…

"This really is making me tear up too," Weiss whispered.

Blake sighed, but she had a small smile that she couldn't shake. "It took them long enough. Yang is as stubborn as Ruby."

"You can say that again."

As they watched Ruby and Yang pull apart before Yang punched Ruby in the shoulder for staying away as long as she did, to which Ruby returned in kind, Blake turned to Weiss.

"So?" Blake asked. "Ready to go sap-collecting?"

Weiss groaned. "Don't remind me. I just hope I don't get sap on any of my clothes. It'll take forever to get it out."

Blake's bow twitched, and she widened her eyes ever so slightly. "Huh."

"Well, they'll be at it catching up for a while yet. Want to play something to pass the time?"

"How about some Remnant: The Game?"

"You're on."

A/N: Sorry it's a short one. I have a lot going on with school right now and I likely will only be able to update once a month after this for the next three/four months. School does that. Big oof.

Thank you to all who loved the last chapter. Cardin will come back in Magus forme, he's not completely gone, don't worry. I also love that you guys like this iteration of him. Don't worry. I'm coming up with more stuff to explain other aspects of the Remnant world with Magecraft. Look out for that in part 2, where I will likely start trying to expand on the Remnant I'm creating.

Thanks to all your luck as well, dear reviewers. I got Muramasa to NP2 luckily enough, but I had to dive a little to grab him. And then, with 0 sq and one ticket from his trial, I got his second copy. The other day as well, I wanted to get Taira, and said "screw it" and rolled. Got her in the first multi. This will likely never happen again, so I want to say, thank you.

For that in-depth review from a Guest mentioning that Ghost Liners came up in F/Sn VN: I'm sorry, it's been a while since I read it, and I also skipped all of part 1's story in F/GO. I'm blasphemous, I know; I'm reading through it right now when I have time away from my classes. Also about the Mystic Eyes thing: I'll explore that later.

But yeah. Ruby and Yang made up. Bonds are stronger than ever. I might redraft this when I have more time again—I just wanted to get this out before the month was over. As it stands, I like it enough.

Keep moving forward everyone! This should be a great New Year, and I announce: this story is not dead! Just a little cramped for time. May you all be lucky in your gacha rolls as well!