Note that [N/N] means Nickname! Also I'd like to apologize about not updating for like a week? Teachers really like to add more work when the grading period ends but it's whatever... Also this chapter is VERY long, so I'm really sorry about that. Without further ado, enjoy~!♡

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"[Y/N]... Please don't cry..."

"How can I not cry?!? You're an idiot, Miho! You're fucking dying and it's all my fault! If only I got here sooner... If only--!"

The memory grew dim and vague, gradually fading away from you. Darkness engulfed your vision, but there were certain things you were able to see. Yet, you didn't want to see any of them. The vivid evocation of the war, the people you cared about, and the ones that went against humanity — you can remember it all. You couldn't endure it and so you buried them all.

However, they came back to haunt you. They were pieces of fragmented glass you couldn't reverse. The pain is getting deeper, and your heart hurts every single day. How many times do you have to say it? You were sorry. With a broken and a contrite heart, you said sorry towards those that you couldn't protect. Whatever more does the world want from you?

Another memory flies down to meet your eyes. It was of Satoru Tojo, the former Tiger Rider, who hadn't liked you because of your unwillingness to sacrifice Yui, a comrade you had in the war. He took after his professor's analogies on the concept of being a hero. Yet, how does killing someone make you a hero? You were no different than the monsters if you committed that sin.

"Ending that girl's life will save the world. She has tainted our society and we need to get rid of her immediately! Why can't you understand that, [Y/N]?!"

"Screw your damned analogy! There are no heroes in this goddamn world!? We're only doing this because we don't have a choice! We fight and kill in order to survive, but that's just wrong! You and I are no different than the Mirror Monsters... But, Yui isn't like them or any of us, so don't drag her into this! Don't take one's life that was given and meant to live!"

You smacked the glass shard away from you. Its sharp edges made a slight incision on the palm of your hand. Red blood flows down your skin and drips onto the ground. As soon as the solitary drop of blood hits the surface, the dark pollution drinks up the crimson paint and begins to take after its tone, staining your world with the color of red.

"[Y/N]!!"

You stood amidst the crimson contamination as a rain of iron and soot started to drift downstream. It's too lonely out here, but you deserved it, right? You belonged into a city of wounds, a commonplace where all of you resided. Where was the colorless world that you once knew? You hated your unfamiliarity with the red domain. It's too bright and welcoming to the point it made your blood curdle.

"[Y/N]!"

Your breathing is getting tougher as you come closer to the direction of the familiar voice. You were going towards them, without any reason, you felt yourself drawn to the mellow tone of their voice. Running toward the scintillating sun, you found yourself falling for the yellow glory. To balance out the thermal conductivity, beneath you was white ice, glistening with frost and crystals.

"[Y/N]."

Upon the calling, a black melody had dispersed, then circled back to revolve around you. It draws you out, closing your eyes and breathing in the luminous blooms of floral aroma. Above you, red rose petals flitted about in the skies and then wafted down towards you, dancing across your cheeks and shoulders.

"[Y/N].."

You didn't care if this was all a dream, you wanted them to show themselves to you. The forgotten remainders and spilled tears, you hoped they would all rewind if this was the outcome. You waited for this moment endlessly, wanting to be embraced and not having to walk alone again. As you opened your eyes, you saw four figures standing in front of you, smiling.

After a long time, you realized it's too lonely out here. You dreamed of this moment every day — you hoped for someone to save you from this numbness. Reaching out to them with a hand, you paused, at a loss for words at the sight of their radiant crimson eyes. Their gleaming fangs protruded from their lips. They weren't ordinary people; they're no longer humans. They were monsters... Ones that are active at night and craved for the crimson life force of humans such as yourself.

Do you trust them? Is it safe to even go with them? You didn't know. These creatures were questionable, yet somewhat alluring and captivating. They looked human, but you knew that they were something else.

"[Y/N], we love you."

Those sweet words ensnared your heart. You couldn't let them go. In this red scene, in this bloody dimension, it's just you and them. Looking into their eyes once more, you knew you couldn't let go of their hearts. They were monsters, blood-sucking fiends but... you were also as corrupted and wicked as them.

Without wasting any time, you ran into their arms, crossing the blurry lines of memories and letting your emotions swallow you deeply.

Please forgive me for my sins. Please.

Surfacing back into reality, you were quick to sit back up and gasp for air. The unexpected dream left you wheezing and sweating. Just what was that? Nightmares were typical, but as the dream came closer to its ending... it left a divergent interpretation.

You groaned and ran a hand through your [H/C] locks, kicking the blanket off of your legs before making your way towards the bathroom. Performing your daily routines as usual, you moved and acted swiftly. A pounding sensation resonates within your heart, carrying many physical hallmarks and allowing the symptoms to course through your body. The sudden dream had caused epinephrine to be released into your bloodstream.

"What a weird dream... The members of Team RWBY appeared in that dream as well. But... why?" Your fingers clawed at the air and you frowned in reminiscence. It's not that you didn't like Ruby and her other three teammates, but the dream and what happened yesterday had you alarmed.

Though small glances and mere gestures can only say so much, it could also prove to be a crucial piece of evidence. You didn't want to believe in anything; you didn't want to label your friends as monsters. Yet, you knew that they were! Like Cinder's faction, they were staring fixedly at you and only you. In addition, their ghastly pallor, fangs that slightly protruded from their lips, and their eyes that resembled red camellias — everything adds up to their monstrous essence.

You let out a long sigh of despair. Gently massaging your temples as you process this information, you heard your scroll going off at the worst time possible. You sat back down and retrieved the small device in your hands, swiping your thumb across the screen to pick up the call. "Hello?"

"Morning, [Y/N]! Are you awake yet? If so, let's have some breakfast together!" You perceived Jaune's voice on the other line. Checking the time on your scroll, the dial read: 8:30 a.m. Your first class didn't start until 9 a.m., so it wouldn't hurt to grab breakfast with your team. "Sure. I'll meet you there at five?"

"Great! We'll see you there!" And, with that, the call ends briefly. Without further ado, you stand back up and pocket your phone along with your Advent Decks before heading out of the room. You forgot to mention: you and your team didn't reside in the same room. There was too much junk and clutter in their room, so you requested to use the space from before. Fortunately, Ozpin was understanding and allowed you to settle in that area.

Overall, you loved being a part of Team JNPR. The members were dynamic, talented and determined. Pyrrha and Nora were incredibly robust, majoring in physical strength. Ren wasn't as powerful as them, but his coordination, agility, and alertness made up for it. Jaune... well... He makes a mean hard-boiled egg!

All jokes aside, Jaune was... interesting. Upon your first encounter with the blue-eyed blonde, you could sense his aura, faint yet yielding. Although he has no fighting experience, he did have determination. The blonde also displayed natural leadership and is aware of the capabilities that the team has. This enables him to form plans in accordance with the team's advantages and possible counterattacks. You knew something extraordinary was waiting for him — that clumsy kid has a lot of potential.

"[Y/N]! Over here!" Jaune calls out your name, waving his hand to signal where him and the others were. You chuckled and murmured to yourself. "Speak of the Devil..." You waved back and sauntered across the cafeteria, sitting between Pyrrha and Nora, greeting them. "Morning."

Nora giggled happily and latched onto your arm. "Morning, [Y/N]!" You smiled and gave her a friendly pat on the head. "Good morning, [Y/N]." Pyrrha acknowledges you with a humane smile. Ren hadn't said anything, but he did greet you with a nod. On the other hand, Jaune came back from the cafeteria lines and brought five plates of pancakes, placing one in front of you.

"Eat up, team! We have a long day ahead of us, and I'm not ready for Professor Goodwitch!" Your team leader says cheerfully, cutting a small piece and scooping the forkful of flat cakes into his mouth. You chuckled and poured a bit of syrup onto the flannel cakes, eating them while they were still warm.

Nora was stuffing herself with pancakes, whereas Ren and Pyrrha ate in normal quantities. Your four teammates began to converse amicably, chatting away about their classes and recent rankings. You were more focused on the hologram above your table, watching the current news as you ate your breakfast.

"T-They're real! I saw them with my own eyes! I had my gun, b-but they were too fast for me to get a clear s-shot!"

"How would you describe these culprits? Can you list out any physical traits?"

"I-I vividly remember that they had an unhealthy pale appearance. They were so... pale. A deathlike whiteness that overtook them... I'm not even sure if they were H-Humans... They look like Humans, but once you meet them face-to-face, you start to question yourself. They also had hypnotic red eyes and a set of fangs!"

"Sir, it sounds like you're describing a certain type of Faunus. Are you sure it wasn't one of them?"

"I am telling you the truth! This is no Faunus nor is it a Human! You have to believe me: Vampires are indeed real! They're lingering around us, but none of you are able to see it! You're all clueless!"

"I'm sure evil mythological beings who roam at night to search for blood are fictitious, good sir. You need to not worry."

"When they come out and begin their hunt, don't say I didn't warn you! I've told you plenty of times that it would happen eventually! And--!"

"Vampires? Pssh!! They don't exist! They're just myths!" Jaune barges in, his mouth forming a discontented frown. "If there were vampires, all of us would've encountered them by now! The subject about vampires had been born because of symbolic storytelling, which means they're not based on real facts."

You decided to question the blonde leader. "Real facts? How do you define 'real facts'? This guy could be telling the truth, but you're quick to debunk it because you haven't seen a vampire before. You and other people may think he's crazy, but if we've faced the Grimm then anything is possible at this rate. As I've said before, your world and mine are different. We've fought and killed a variety of monsters, meaning this world is going through evolution and cultivating new monsters and breeds every day. It doesn't matter if it's passed down by symbolic storytelling or not. We just have to keep moving and bear with the world of bloody evolution if they do exist. Don't be so quick to judge and answer when you haven't had a clue."

There was a surprised silence. Jaune listened, mouth agape with complete shock; Ren blinked his eyes nervously; while Pyrrha and Nora stared at you with indecipherable expressions. Beads of sweat broke out on Jaune's brow. The sudden outburst made him wonder what he did or said to rile you up like that.

"[Y-Y/N]... I don't know what I did to make you go through a rampage like that, but whatever it is, I'm really sorry. You're right, I haven't seen a vampire before and I was a bit careless with my choice of words. It's just that... vampires are kind of hard to believe, you know?" Jaune says with a troubled face.

Ren leans back uneasily, his lips forming a pensive frown, asking, "I don't want to sound rude, but is this why you've been in a bad mood ever since yesterday, [Y/N]? Even now, you look quite disturbed and tense. Have you encountered any of these vampires during your stay here at Beacon or--?"

You quickly cut in. "Yes, I have. I..." You paused and inspired enough air to satisfy and relieve you of the oxygen requirements before continuing your explanation for everything — your encounter with Cinder's Faction, the situation with Team RWBY, and the unnatural phenomena with Glynda.

From time to time, Jaune and Ren would make small comments. They'd either scold you for being so careless or ask why didn't you tell them earlier and would've gladly helped you in any way they can. While you expressed your side of the story, you hadn't noticed the lustful looks you've been given by Pyrrha and Nora.

The two female teammates kept their ears open, but the one thing that distracted them was the hidden ichor that flowed within your veins. You didn't bat a suspicious eye at them; they've been beside you and the team ever since the disappearance of Team RWBY, so what could go wrong?

Seeing that there was a bit of syrup on the corner of your lip, Nora leaned in towards your face and licked the thick sweet liquid off of your warm skin. Eyes wide open, you immediately turn your head to face the hammer-meister. "N-Nora? Why did you do that?"

Your jade-eyed teammate flashes you an innocent smile. "There was syrup on your face, and I couldn't let that go to waste!" It sounded like the typical Nora you knew, but her intentions differed from your assumption. The feeling of your skin against her tongue had left a sweet and rich taste in her mouth. She was there...! Right there! If it weren't for Jaune, Ren, and everyone else, she would've...

"Nora? Hello? Earth to Nora Valkyrie? You're spacing out on us." You waved your hand in front of her face, pulling her out of a daydream. "W-Wait what? What's happening?" Nora said with a flinch, clearly distracted by impure thoughts. Before you could say anything else, the bell rang loudly, signaling the start of class.

Jaune buried his face in his hands and groaned with a whining voice. "No!!! I'm not ready for Professor Goodwitch! Once I get to her class, she's going to kill me!" Ren patted him consolingly on the shoulder. "She isn't that bad, although I wouldn't suggest sleeping in her class either."

"That was a one-time thing!"

"For a one-time thing, you follow that routine every single day in her class," You chuckled, grabbing your tray and getting ready for Glynda's lecture. "I'll head out first. And, please don't be late like last time. See you guys there!" You wave at them before walking off.

Ren fixed his gaze on Jaune, pulling him up from his seat. "Let's go, Jaune. She won't do anything unless you fall asleep in class again." The blonde held onto the table, ludicrous tears trailed down his cheeks. "Can you blame me?!? Her lectures are really boring!"

The magenta-eyed male looks at his female teammates and sighs. "We'll meet you in class?" Nora and Pyrrha nodded, watching Ren carry Jaune to class. The blue-eyed blonde struggled to break free, but the latter overpowered him and proceeded to drag his team leader to class.

The duo stayed behind, allowing these red visions to burn inside them. As if they were hypnotized, the dynamic pair stared at you, one who was so far away from them. As if in a trance, they watched and mesmerized every movement you made. Though you were out of their reach, the young lasses felt closer to you. Though unbreakable, you'd soon break beneath them.

"You know, Pyrrha, she tasted sweet..." Nora smiles dreamily, licking her lips as she recalls her sudden initiation with the Kamen Rider. Frowning, the green-eyed beauty turns her head to glare at her teammate. "Did she see now?" Pyrrha asked, her voice full of venom.

Upon hearing her spiteful tone, the hammer-wielder had a fit of giggles. "Don't be mad, Pyrrha! As much as I wanted to bite her, I didn't do it because there were lots of people around us and also..." Nora's eyes slowly shift, the colors of jade and crimson fighting for dominance.

"It isn't the right time." Pyrrha lets out a long sigh, her throat had been dried out by the blazing sun. She was parched — she'll die without a sip. Yet, there was an incongruous mixture of scents surrounding the two fighters. A motley of interacting livestock that smelled dull and unappetizing. Nothing and no one had come close to your strong bouquet of confection.