Queen Ruby

Chapter 10

Today is Friday. Yang is shaking me awake.

"Wake up Rubs! You're going to be late for class again if you don't wake up!"

"Five more minutes..."

"No! Get out!"

"Why do you do this to me?"

"If you wouldn't get home so late you wouldn't be so tired in the morning!"

"Fine!" I role out of bed and get dressed. My headband is still in my hair. I only ever take it off to shower.

Blake and Yang already left for breakfast when I finish getting ready. I walk out followed closely by Weiss. We haven't talked much these last few days.

"You know this is a bad idea."

"What is Bestie?"

"You meeting with a criminal every evening!" She looks disappointed.

"He's trustworthy. Don't worry about it. You'll meet him Tuesday and then you'll know that you can trust him. Besides, he's an old childhood friend."

"Childhood friend?"

"Yea he used to play with me when I lived with mom. Before I came to dad and Yang."

"Yang never told us anything about you living with your mother before she died. I always assumed she lived with you and your father."

I now realize my mistake.

"Eh... Well, Yang and dad think I always lived with them... they can't remember that I was brought to them when I was four. Don't tell Yang anything! Please! I slipped up. You're not supposed to know. So please don't tell Yang?" I look at her pleading. She seems confused and thinks about it for a minute before answering.

"I won't say anything, but in return, you have to tell me why they can't remember." I nod.

"When we got attacked mom handed me over to Guard, who himself was only ten at the time, and told him to find my dad. He gave me to dad and changed their memory a bit. It wasn't much, only enough to make them believe I'd always been there" I look down at my feet. It sounds so wrong when you say it out loud.

Before Weiss can say anything we catch up to the others. Weiss knows it would upset me deeply if she told them so she pretends nothing happened. I'm grateful to her for doing so.

"So Ruby have you done the homework for Professor Port?" Blame asks me.

"Yea I finished it yesterday before going to sleep."

Weiss and Yang are wrapped up in their own conversation so I decided to make conversation with Blake about school.

"I still haven't finished the assignment that professor Goodwitch gave us. Could I maybe take a look at yours?"

"Nice try Ruby, but I'm not letting you copy my work."

"Well, it was worth a shot."

"If you weren't gone every evening you wouldn't be so late on your assignment." Not her too. First Yang and Weiss now Blake, won't anyone leave me be about my visits to Guard?

"Can we talk about something else please?"

"Ruby, the others won't say it so I will. You have been acting weird since you turned sixteen. Something changed. You act so grown up, you are much more confident, in battle you give orders and sometimes you get that scary look in your eyes. We are worried about you."

"I'm sorry I worried you guys. I never meant to, but some stuff has changed, and I need to go through with this. I'll do what I need to do for the people of this world."

I know I've said too much. Turn around Ruby. Run. I order myself. The classrooms are so close. I storm off and get myself a seat.

Why do I get the feeling Team RWBY minus R are going to start putting two and two together quite soon.

The class is boring as always. I try to keep up with Doctor Ooblek but he is to fast for my tired brain to keep up with and I eventually fall asleep.

"Miss Rose!" I shot up from my sleep. Oobleck is standing in front of me and he does not look very happy.

"Sleeping in class again, are we? This is the second time this week!"

"I'm sorry. Won't happen again. I swear."

"Go to the principals' office. He will decide what to do with you." I am almost relieved when he says that. Oz would understand. He may not like me, but he needs to be on my good side to stay in the inner circle.

I pack my things together and walk out. My team gives me a worried look when I pass by them and I give them a reassuring smile in return. The elevator ride up to Oz office is long. When I enter his Office, he is not alone.