There was a certain mystery to stars, Ruby thought. They were beautiful. Poems were written about them. Songs were sung. They were such a fundamental part of the world in which she lived, but even as she tried to reach out at them, she could not touch them.

Some things in this world, she mused, simply could not be reached.

The club was hot and sweaty. Weiss had never been partial to places such as that, and honestly, neither had Ruby. She didn't hate it, but she certainly didn't enjoy it. It was why she had come outside, even though the others were inside, keeping an eye out for anything out of the ordinary, asking around…

Qrow was the only one treating it like a night on the town. Ruby wasn't surprised.

"Beautiful, aren't they?"

Ruby started. It sounded almost like her. The slight pauses between words, the melodious undertone. Of course, it wasn't Weiss. Just Winter, speaking of the stars.

"I got to know them pretty well. Or Weiss taught me a lot about them, anyways." Ruby didn't bother to turn. The Schnees had had enough politeness in their lives, Ruby knew they needed a little disrespect.

"Polaris always leads north." Winter begun, rhyming off a nearly identical phrase to what Weiss had said so long ago. Ruby couldn't help but feel her heart pull at the words. "Then there are Lupine-"

"The wolves. Lupine and Remus. There's a story about them, how they were the first man and faunus…" Ruby cut Winter off, picking up the line of the textbook almost perfectly. "Weiss… Found all those things so easy. She could tell me the name of every star, when it would disappear for six months, and when it would come back. She could tell me which myth each star was associated with. She could tell me all of that."

"Did you find it endearing?"

"No," Ruby sighed. It was hard to explain. "It's like… That's the her she never wanted to be. It was the second skin that she could throw on and peel off without blinking. It was part of who she is - or was, or whatever - but it's not the her I loved."

"Would you like to know something, Ruby Rose?" Winter leaned against the same railing as Ruby, looking into the infinite depths and heights of the sky. Ruby waited for the answer, unrushed. It was peaceful out there. "I couldn't tell you about the wolves. I couldn't tell you about the maidens either. I can tell you the names of the stars in alphabetical order, but I could never tell you why they're beautiful. I can pretend, I can tell you they are, and you might agree, but I will never see them for what they are."

Ruby was silent for a moment.

"Do you think Weiss could?" She wondered aloud. The memories of her lover were still nebulous, vague and unformed. It seemed from her letters that Weiss didn't believe in her own ability to see the beauty of the stars. Like she had lost the ability to wonder and love. Ruby knew it wasn't true though, Weiss had always been scared of that side of her. It had taken Ruby years to coax it out of the heiress, but that didn't mean it hadn't been there all along.

"I think my sister is an exceptional person. I think she is one of the greatest people to walk among us. She has always been more talented by voice, sword, and song of parlay than I. She was the natural choice to be the heiress. However, that pressure hurt her. As much as I believe her to be my superior in almost every field, I was always stronger with my aura than her. I think that says something about her, don't you?"

The answer hung heavily in the air.

"Winter, your semblance… It's hereditary, right?"

"Indeed,"

"Could you do something for me?" Ruby asked, a little nervous.

"If it is within reason, certainly."

"Could… Could you summon a nightingale? Weiss… She used to conjure them up when we would go walking in the woods."

Winter was quiet for a moment. "I'm sorry Ruby, but I cannot summon that bird. I have done doves, and even an eagle once. But I have nothing to learn from a nightingale. It's never left an impression on me, and I can no more summon a dove than I could a koi."

"Oh… Sorry for asking then."

Winter said nothing. There was a moment of silence, and then the Schnee left, returning inside. Ruby knew she should too. She should go in and look for the hints that Weiss would have left behind. Talk to managers, ask the frequent visitors…

But she wanted to stay outside for a little while. She hoped that maybe a night bird would come sing for her. She feared she would never hear that song again.

Yang felt nauseous.

She wanted to go to the washroom and lock herself in a stall. She wanted a drink to numb it all. She wanted a pill to make her happy again.

"So people just… Do this, huh?" Jaune sounded baffled as they looked around the myriad of toned bodies in various states of undress. Most of them were women, though there were a few men with taut muscles slicked with oil. "Can't say I understand why anyone would come to a place like this." He mumbled to himself, but it was like a slap in the face.

The familiar feeling of filth was starting to come over Yang. She wanted to have a hot shower and scald her skin and wash away the residual glitter from when a working girl had brushed past her earlier.

"Jaune and I can go check with the manager and see if they know anything." Pyrrha offered, and Jaune nodded in agreement. The two stood, but Yang hardly noticed. Qrow grumbled something about how he needed more whisky, but Yang's focus was locked on the stage.

The girl who was up there right now had wavy blonde hair. Just like her own. The girl was still decent, but Yang had seen the shows before. Soon things would start coming off, and not long after that, the woman would be completely exposed.

Yang looked down, and thought about puking right there.

"Are you alright?" Blake reached forward to touch Yang's hand reassuringly, but the touch just made Yang feel worse. Blake had done everything right. She had kept moving forward.

Yang, though, had burned her soul to a husk. She had done all of the things she used to think only people she pitied would do. She had been up on that stage in her own way. She had been exposed, let herself be used for others' entertainment. Rather than carrying on her sister's work and making the world better, Yang had given up.

"Yang?"

She realized there was a tear sliding down her face. She hurriedly brushed it away and stood. "I need to go to the washroom." She whispered hoarsely, holding her stomach tightly.

Before Blake could object, she was forcing her way through the crowd of onlookers enjoying the show, hugging herself tightly. They were enjoying the skin of some random woman, nothing but lust for the parts of her they enjoyed so much. She wanted them to look away. She wanted the girl on stage to have different hair.

She never wanted to feel like she was on display again.

"Hey beautiful," A handsome man with a bright smile leered at her, eyes dulled by everyone's favourite poison. He slid his hand along her stomach, exposed as it was by her short jacket. She had felt fingers like that before. She hit them away, backing up as if he had struck her.

She hadn't stopped them last time.

"Sorry," She murmured as she bumped into another girl who turned away from the spectacle. Her eyes lit up when she saw Yang.

"Not a problem at all." Trying to ignore her hungry eyes, Yang stumbled towards the restroom.

She threw the door open, hurried to a stall, ignoring the other women in there, and slammed its door behind her. She hammered the lock shut and sat on the toilet lid, trying to control the trembling.

It was like she was cold and hungry and sick all at once. She cupped a hand over her lip to stop the sobs from escaping, tasting salty tears as they ran down her face. The man in there had called her beautiful, but he was wrong. He was so very, very, wrong.

She was ugly. She was ruined. She was filth and dirt. She was worse than the worms that feasted on corpses. Even the girls up on that stage. They were doing that for money. They were at least doing something.

Yang had no reason.

Fuck.

Hand shaking, she reached into the pocket of her jacket, to where the little baggie was. The plastic crinkled as it was thrown about by the erratic movements of her hand. She tore it open to get at the three little pills inside, that she had brought from so far away. One bounced out of its own accord and landed on the floor.

"Fuck!"

She slid the other two out into her open palm and threw them back into her mouth, swallowing as quickly as possible. She was used to doing it.

"Yeah, I seen someone like her." The fat, oily man stroke his greasy beard in his high backed chair. Pyrrha shifted, somewhat uncomfortable. This place was not enjoyable. She did not like that this man paid women to undress so they could pay next month's rent. She hated that, despite all the things that she did to save the world and make it better, places like this existed. She killed Grimm, but places like this is why they were drawn to the Kingdoms.

Did he not know that he was drawing monsters to their doorstep? Or did her just not care?

"She always came in here late, half hour before closing. Never paid any of the strippers for anything. Just sat at a table with her hood pulled up. Then someone would sit down across from her. They would talk a little. Then she'd go. Or he'd go."

"Who did she talk with?" Jaune's arms were crossed, and he had dropped into an authoritative tone. Something that only came up when he was directing citizens. For all of his antics and his goofy demeanor, Jaune was a strong man. It was times like this that it came out. It was one of the parts of him she loved most.

"Hell if I know. Some shady character. Never seemed to see his face or nothing. Didn't care much. Lot of husbands and wives coming in here that don't want their marriage to fall apart. Concealing clothes aren't uncommon."

"Anything at all?" Pyrrha pushed, hoping for some tangible lead. They had nothing. Absolutely nothing right now.

"He was tall. She was short. Look, I keep my business to myself. I let others do the same. And I don't like it when people try to make my business their business."

"And we appreciate your cooperation." Jaune's voice was getting dark now. Dangerous. Like thunder.

"Look, there's nothing I can say. If you want information, go to Junior." Pyrrha frowned.

"Who?"

"He's the information broker. If you're pretty princess was doing anything fishy in the underworld, he'd know."

"And there's nothing else you can tell us?" Jaune asked. The greasy man looked at him and he laughed, turned to Pyrrha.

"If you're ever short money, I bet you could draw a hell of a profit here."

Jaune exploded forward, and Pyrrha only barely caught him.

"Jaune." She warned, searching her husband's eyes. They were cold and furious, a long way from the warmth she was used to. She had seen too much of that coldness in him lately.

"They find the feisty ones sexy."

"Let's go," Pyrrha urged, holding Jaune's hand and stepping away, not giving the oily man another glance. Reluctantly, Jaune came along.

The trembling slowed.

The sickness gave way to the tingling in her fingers.

The hurt gave way to bliss.

She unlatched the door, giggling at the popping sensation.

She stood, the shakiness gone from her legs, although they still felt a little weak. She walked to the sink and turned the tap on, realizing she hadn't actually gone to the washroom a moment later.

She stuck a finger under the water, then turned the heat up. It felt like a thousand dull little pricks. Like pins and needles, but almost pleasurable in the way it struck her. Steam billowed out of the sink, tickling her cheeks.

"W tch t, yo ll et b r e."

Yang blinked slowly, feeling the heavy lids slide over her eyes.

"I said you'll get burned." The woman said, bright smile. "Seems like someone's had a little too much to drink." The words came out slowly, and Yang smiled. The other woman had glossy eyes too though. It was funny.

"That's you." Yang said with a laugh, reaching forward and poking the woman on the nose.

The newcomer giggled, and Yang took a moment to look her up and down. She was wearing leather pants and a slim waistcoat and nothing else. She looked good, tight clothes accenting a slim body with smooth, milky skin and smooth curves.

She had little ears too. Second ears. On her head. Kind of like Blake's.

A pang of guilt poked at her stomach. Yang ignored it, brushing the thought of Blake aside. She didn't want to feel bad.

She wanted to feel those ears. They were cute.

She reached a hand up and touched one, pinching it slightly between her thumb and forefinger. It was velvety smooth, and took her breath away.

"Most people ask first." The woman chuckled, and Yang withdrew her hand jerkily. She tried to mumble a sorry, but her lips wouldn't move properly, so it was just garbled. "It's okay though." The woman gave her a cute smile, and Yang smiled back. She stepped closer to the blonde.

She had cute, sharp features. Like a pixie.

The woman had bright crimson lips that sparkled in the dim lighting. Yang reached a finger up and stroked it softly, drawing a wide smile from the woman. Yang felt something press against her, and looked down to see the other woman had come so close that they were brushing against each other. When she looked back up, she found a set of lips against her own.

She closed her eyes, allowing herself to drift. Those lips felt good. Smooth and soft.

She opened her mouth with the intention of licking them. Before she got the chance though, she found the woman's tongue pressing against hers. It was better than those lips could be, so she let it keep going.

Arms wrapped around her, and Yang returned the favour, pressing her generous bust into the other woman. She got a soft moan in return, and she enjoyed the small vibrations that reached her through those crimson lips. They slid along Yang's until they were off her mouth and trailing to her cheek. The other woman continued kissing down Yang's face, making her way to the neck.

Yang sighed and opened her eyes.

To see Blake.

The faunus looked stricken. Like she had been stabbed. Yang tilted her head, feeling something slide down to her mouth. She licked her lips. It tasted like metal.

She raised her hand to her face, and when she pulled it away, there was crimson liquid on it. Like the woman's lips. Which were still working away at her neck.

Apparently sensing her hesitation, the other woman pulled away, eyes half lidded until they saw the blood. Then they shot open. Yang laughed. Then the woman let go of her waist, and Yang slumped against the wall, cracking a mirror. Blinking with wide eyes, Yang looked at it. There was a starburst crack in it, right over where her eye was. She reached up to touch it, and then saw the blood again.

"Guhh," She murmured as she turned back to Blake, who was racing over. She arrived just in time to catch Yang's fall.

"CALL AN AMBULANCE!" Blake shouted at the other woman, who just stumbled back and away before running out.

"FUCK!" Blake cursed, laying Yang on the cold tile, fumbling around for her scroll. "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" With shaky hands, Blake pulled it out. Yang wondered why her hands were shaking. It wasn't cold. It was hot. It felt really hot. Yang's face felt like heat was pulsing off it.

"Yang?" Blake gasped desperately as her gaze wandered over to the ceiling. Yang looked back at Blake, those beautiful, amber eyes. Those eyes that had been so close to Yang so many times.

Why hadn't she ever kissed Blake? Kissing people was easy. She kissed that woman.

It was hot. Yang wanted to be sick. The ceiling was starting to blur. It felt like everything was turning a quarter way round, then shifting back an eighth at breakneck speeds.

She hadn't kissed Blake though.

Why not? Blake was beautiful.

She had enough sense to turn her head to the side as she heaved heavily, her sick splattering against the floor.

"Nonononono…" The mantra continued, lulling Yang into a sleep. She wanted to sleep. Maybe then things wouldn't be so spinny.

She closed her eyes.

"NO!" Blake screamed. Yang opened her eyes, finding tears in Blake's. Blake should never cry. Blake was too beautiful to cry.

Yang tried to raise a hand to stroke Blake's cheek. Wipe away that tear. She didn't want that tear there. Tears weren't beautiful.

Everything tasted like copper and bile. Yang laughed. Then she was sick.

She would have choked on her vomit if Blake hadn't knocked her head sideways.

It was hot.

Blake was beautiful.

It was time to sleep.

Make things not spinny anymore.

Sleep.

No…

...

Yes.

A/N:

I have been dreading writing this chapter in particular. This was really hard for me. Also, who loves cliffhangers?!

I had to cut a scene from this chapter. It should come back sometime, I don't know when. But this was a lot for a chapter. I'll leave it at this.

I hate cliffhangers, so I'll release the next chapter as soon as possible. This (next) weekend latest.

Good news: We have another lead. Kind of.

Unjax