(Dairoku's POV)

(Flashback)

???: Big Brother!

Me: Don't you dare hurt my sister, you hear me!?

I was hopeless... I watched as he hurt my sister so badly, that her screams were no longer audible... It was the end... until our dad came along and rescued us... I was a fool to think that my sister and I could take him down ourselves... now I live knowing that I was the cause of my sister's loss...

(End of Flashback)

"I JUST... COULDN'T HOLD BACK..."
CHAPTER 6: LITTLE ROSE TRYING TO HELP...

(Dairoku's POV)

I was just getting up from sitting on my bed and heading outside of my dorm. I heard a strange thing around the school, of Ruby getting herself into an altercation with Cardin and getting her team grounded. I wanted to investigate for myself and head to their dorm; I just hoped that those were all rumors. When I got to their room, I heard Weiss berating Ruby which sadly, confirmed everything...

Weiss: How childish! I can't believe it! You're the leader, Ruby. What in the world were you thinking!?

I sighed and knocked on the door. Weiss was the one who answered it and when she saw me, a wave of relief hit her.

Weiss: Dairoku thank goodness you're here. You won't believe what happened!

I heard a slight 'eep' coming from the room; I assumed Ruby didn't expect me to show up.

Me: I'm fully aware of what happened Weiss. *sigh*, mind letting me talk to her?

Weiss nodded and let me into their room before closing the door behind us. There I saw Blake and Yang, the former reading a book while the latter was looking at me but Ruby was nowhere to be found... I was slightly confused before I saw a red cloak from behind Yang; I already knew...

Me: *sigh* your cloak's showing Little Rose...

She gave up and slowly walked from behind Yang, with a face filled with fear and regret. She did her best to avoid eye contact with me and looked down, shaking. I went over to a desk and leaned against it, with my arms crossed.

Me: Alright... Mind telling me what happened, Little Rose?

Ruby: ...I-It wasn't my fault! He picked a fight with me!

Me: Ruby...

She flinched a little when I called her by her actual name; she knew I was serious.

Me: It doesn't matter who started it. You're a leader and that's not an excuse. Did you realize how much trouble you cause for yourself and your team?

Weiss: He's right! It was YOU who got into a fight, but the entire team has been grounded for a week! I was planning on going to the city to shop this weekend! And I had reservations at an impossible-to-get-into café!

I gave Weiss a 'really' look

Me: Is that really your biggest concern right now?

Weiss: Oh hush! You wouldn't understand.

I just shook my head and looked back to the disheartened rose.

Ruby: I-I'm sorry...!

Weiss: Do you think apologizing is enough?

Yang: C'mon Weiss.

Weiss, Ruby and I looked to Yang who was attempting to deescalate the situation.

Yang: Can't you see Ruby's sorry?

Weiss: Yang...?

We looked at Weiss who had an angry and... scary look on her face. She scared Ruby and Yang and caused me to sweat drop a bit...

Weiss: She keeps acting like a child because you spoil her! This is an academy! You can't keep treating her like a baby!

I just looked away before sighing. I knew I shouldn't expect Ruby to mature over night but, I at least thought she knew better then to get tempted by Cardin and fight him...

Ruby: First of all... Dairoku, Weiss, I'm sorry. It's not Yang's fault so please don't talk to her like that... I know it was my fault, I know I should've retrained myself... But... I just couldn't... I just couldn't hold myself back...

Me: Ruby, it still doesn't make it right... What were you fighting about to begin with? Why didn't you think of getting a professor instead of trying to handle him yourself?

Ruby didn't answer me... in fact, she just looked down and rubbed her arm

Ruby: I-I can't say...

Me: Why?

Ruby: I... I...

She tried to say something but couldn't. I just sighed and leaned off the table and started heading towards the door; I wasn't going to pursue further.

Me: Alright.

I opened it and began walking out of the room.

Ruby: Dairoku...?

Me: If you're not willing to tell me why, I won't force you. Just know that I'll be waiting until you're ready to tell me.

I left the room to head back to my dorm. I wasn't really looking where I was going so I managed to bump into someone

???: Hey! Watch where you're going it!

(Ruby's POV)

When Dairoku turned to leave, I could see his face... he looked so disappointed in me... I couldn't fight the tears falling from my eyes... I let him down... Yang saw me and pulled me into a hug.

Me: Yang...

Yang: It's okay... Don't cry...

Me: B-But... I let Dairoku down... Now he's mad and disappointed in me...

Yang: I wouldn't go as far as to say he's mad you. His face didn't show any forms of anger nor did his voice. He just looked and sounded slightly upset and disappointed. I'm still proud that you still tried to hold back.

I couldn't help but let my emotions take over and I cried...

Yang: I'm not sure but maybe you should go and be honest with Dairoku, tell him why you got into a fight. Knowing him, he'll probably understand why.

I looked back up to Yang

Me: You really... think so?

Yang: Well, there's only one way to find out. He just left so he couldn't have gotten far. You could probably catch him.

Me: R-Right...!

I nodded to Yang before running out of the door to find Dairoku. When I turned a corner, I heard Dairoku's voice; he sounded like he was talking to someone... and the voice he was talking to sounded all too familiar... Cardin...!

(Dairoku's POV)

I saw that the person I ran into was Cardin Dickhead himself... I was really not in the mood to deal with him as I just rolled my eyes at him. I guess he saw that as he smirked and asked me,

Cardin: What? You wanna fight me?

I just sighed and shook my head in boredom

Me: I have more important things to worry about beside your sorry ass, Dickhead Mc'Fly so walk away. Besides, I'm not in the mood to deal with asses.

Cardin looked at me angered at what I said but I began to think... It probably would have been good if I could get information from him...

Cardin: You think you're all special just because your daddy's a famous huntsman. I bet he's the only reason you got into the school in the first place. Oh and let's not forget that you're a filthy animal too; just a fried chicken!

I was getting bored of his stale insults and was about to walk away from him, if not for a certain red blur separating us, followed by rose petals. I looked down, shocked only to see Ruby, holding her Crescent Rose up to Cardin's neck.

Me: R-Ruby...!? What are you...!?

Ruby: Didn't I tell you that if you were to bad mouth Dairoku again that you'd pay for it!?

My Thoughts: Wha... Is that why she...

I was pulled out of my thoughts by the sound of Professor Port's voice, calling out to our direction.

Port: Hey! What's going on out there!?

This was bad... If he saw Ruby holding Crescent Rose in the school, she could get expelled!

Me: Crap! C'mon Ruby!

I picked up Ruby and flew out of the school with her in my arms, before Port could see us. We hid behind a tree and I looked out to see if anyone was there but, we were thankfully in the clear... I fell to the ground and rested against the tree, exhausted because of the sudden adrenaline rush I just felt and it seemed like Ruby was feeling the same as she too seemed tired and fell onto her knees. Finally when I caught my breath, I decided to speak

Me: Ruby, what the hell were you thinking!? If he saw you swinging your weapon like that in the school, he could have expelled you!

Ruby: I-I'm sorry...

Me: *sigh* Little Rose... Tell me the truth... Did you get into a fight with Cardin over me?

She didn't answer, just stayed quiet and looked down in shame while rubbing her arm.

Me: Ruby...

Ruby: I-I'm sorry... I know I'm supposed to be a leader... and I shouldn't get into fight's so easily...But...

She began to cry...

Ruby: But... But...! I just... couldn't hold back...!

Me: *sigh* You idiot... If you think you did it for me, then you're sorely mistaken.

Ruby: H-Huh...?

Me: Many people think my father's the only reason why I'm in the position I'm in now. And, I get a lot of... unwanted attention because I'm a winged Faunus. People used to pluck my feathers and people still do but... It doesn't bother me, because I know that nothing good happens to the wicked so I'll just let karma have them. But... even so...

I reached for her face and gently wiped the tears from her distressed eyes, then I pulled her into an embrace, wrapping my wings around her as well.

Me: I'm thankful to you that you stood up for me.

After a few seconds, Ruby hugged me back, tightly

Ruby: I'm so sorry, Dairoku... I know... you're disappointed in me...

Me: Damn right I am. You can't let yourself be so vulnerable to their words as at the end of the day, their just that, words; words that are meaningless.

She hugged me tighter and I felt my shirt get wet as she cried again.

Me: But, what happened was just you stumbling over a stone in the road. You can still become an amazing leader, I just know it.

She just began to sob uncontrollably and showed no signs of wanting to get up or anything which I understood completely; I've been in a similar emotional situation before...

Ruby: T-Thank you... Dairoku... You have no idea how much it means to me, hearing you say that... Do you mind... if we stayed like this... for a bit longer...?

Me: Heh... Anytime and we can stay here for as long as you want, Little Rose.

END
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A nice, short chapter from the Manga Red Like Roses called Just Trying To Help. Hope you guys enjoyed it!