Memento Mori

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY

"While I thought that I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die."

-Leonardo da Vinci

Chapter I

"Remember that you have to die."

Those were the words Jacques Schnee gave his daughter, before unleashing the Giant Armor. The only piece of advice he ever gave Weiss about becoming a Huntress.

While grim, it was good advice. All Hunters know that they could die and those that forget are always the first to be buried.

"Everyone dies at some point," Weiss sighed, looking up at the clouds.

It was early November; the autumn leaves had already begun to fall, leaving only skeletal husks behind. It seemed fitting what with the news she had received a couple of hours ago.

At the start of each month all Beacon Academy students must undergo a thorough physical examination. Naturally, in a combat school designed to train professional monster hunters, this was done to ensure that the student in question was fit for missions. And keeping with the pragmatism, so long as any injury or illness didn't interfere with a students' ability to fight, they were more than encouraged to continue their "education" as it were.

Of course, Beacon, as any competent institution of learning, had a medical wing. Though to call it such was a misnomer, it was more a pharmacy than anything. A few beds here, a couple nurses there, it wasn't much to look at. For the most part, all it really existed for was treating bloody noses and sprained ankles or even the occasional broken limb. The cost of training one's body to kill monsters made of thick hide, bone plates, and pure muscle.

Not to say it couldn't handle more extreme cases. The medical wing was, in point of fact a triage center. It was capable of handling much worse injuries, though only in times of emergency. Such as the Breach, when Vale's hospitals and clinics had too many to care for. A failsafe, that ironically, wasn't open to the students. Not usually, at any rate.

Of course, Beacon's medical wing was used for the monthly physical. But with up to 360 students, the waiting could take more than a few hours. So the students were encouraged to make appointments with the various hospitals scattered throughout Vale. Naturally, Weiss had made an appointment for herself at the Schnee owned Mantle Memorial Hospital.

Weiss had extended the use of the hospital's facilities to the rest of RWBY, but they had all refused. Yang and Ruby had already made the necessary arrangements in Vale, while Blake chose to simply await her turn in Beacon.

In the end, Weiss was glad to be alone on this trip. The results were, in a word, disheartening.

Dust and Aura Abnormality Disorder: a genetic disease, rare and despite the acronym, DAAD, is maternal in its origins.

While not exactly deaths knell for the civilian population, it would create many complications for a Hunter. Its symptoms included anemia, weakness, lethargy, as well as random 'attacks'. These attacks included extreme pain, labored breathing, and the coughing of blood.

The bright side was that DAAD was slow. In fact Weiss hadn't even shown signs of any symptoms, outside of a small yet significant drain on her Aura.

The downside was that it could be fatal. The mortality rate among Huntsmen was somewhere near 50%. You either died or learned to live with it. It was incurable after all.

Worse yet was its trigger, Dust and Aura. Most civilians diagnosed with it went on to live productive lives, complications aside. With their Aura locked, it's not like they ever used it and most contact with Dust was nothing more than an occupational hazard, from mining or selling.

Huntsmen weren't so lucky. Both Aura and Dust were a necessity, the very bread and butter of their profession. Without Aura, a Hunter was more likely to be killed before they could even draw their weapon. Without Dust, a Hunter's weapon had as much worth as a white flag.

And for a Huntress like Weiss? Whose entire form of combat was dependent on the usage of her Semblance, the very manifestation of her Aura, and the manipulation of Dust? Her life had just become needlessly more complicated. She would need to rely on finishing the Creatures of Grimm with Myrtenaster and her own strength. A daunting task already, without the affects of DAAD.

The Grimm did not die easily. They made you work for that honor.

Fortunately or unfortunately, as the case may be, Dust and Aura Abnormality Disorder was not an end to her career. There were quite a few Huntsmen throughout the Remnant that suffered from DAAD. Most were young, still in the first stages of the disease. Those who had survived to a hard earned retirement were bed ridden, their bodies under constant strain.

While her affliction would be made note of on her medical records and the staff of Beacon informed, her future lay in her hands. Weiss could either drop out or stay in school. It wasn't even a choice.

Looking over the airfield, she saw that the transport to the Academy was arriving. She would turn in the results of her physical and then head back to her dorm. Hopefully her team didn't have any complications.

"Already done?" Weiss asked, surprised at Blake's presence.

"It's first come, first served," the Faunus replied.

Rolling her eyes at the bookworm, Weiss walked over and collapsed onto her bed. She felt tired, not from the disease, but rather the emotional drain.

"Is everything alright?" Blake looked up from her book, a slight frown on her face.

She knew that the heiress wasn't fond of medical tests and would often sleep the remainder of the day in retribution, but never had Weiss shown such fatigue.

'Other than that I have autoimmune disease that attacks my very soul, I'm just perfect,' she mused, a wry smile on her lips. 'I'll tell them later.'

"I'm fine, just drained. It was a long day," Weiss admitted. She knew that excuse was going to be used more frequently, but what else could she say? It was true she was fine, and the physical had been particularly taxing.

She wasn't showing signs yet, and until it became too much for her she saw no reason to make a fuss over it.

"Have Ruby and Yang returned?"

"Not yet, but Yang messaged me before you came in. They should be here in thirty minutes," Blake continued to watch Weiss.

It wasn't just a long day, Blake thought. She seemed defeated almost. It was subtle, not even Ruby would pick it up though Yang might have. Ruby had adopted Weiss's answer to checkup days and would studiously ignore the world unless food was mentioned. Yang simply felt the need to do something. Whether that was a night of partying in Vale or a duel with Nora, regardless of what, Yang would be sure to find an outlet for her pent up energy.

Blake herself would simply find a corner to read her books. Usually, that corner was her bed. It had become something of team protocol. Blake would watch over Ruby and Weiss while they slept in and Yang would do whatever until curfew.

Yes, Weiss would go to sleep after everything and, yes, she was in bed. But what bothered Blake was that Weiss wasn't sleeping. She was still fully dressed, shoes still on. Her arm may have been over her eyes but was clearly still awake.

"You sure you're fine?" Blake couldn't help but ask.

"I assure you, I'm quite alright. It just takes too much energy to get dressed into more comfortable clothes," she sighed. "I just have a bit on my mind is all."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Blake pushed. After her disastrous handling of her heritage and the White Fang, Blake had been trying her best to bond with the Schnee heiress. It went without saying that such moments tended to be awkward and somewhat stiff, but the attempt was what was important.

Or so Yang said.

Turning her head towards the cat Faunus, Weiss let out a small sigh. She had gone to Beacon to escape her father, to become a better person. She liked to think that she was making progress. While she wasn't fond of the Faunus when she had first arrived and her own reaction to Blake's origins, she could now say that she appreciated her friend, cat ears and all. And looking at her now, Weiss could see the change in Blake. Before, Blake would have ignored her, or at most would have asked the question, all while her nose was in a book, indifferent. But now, Blake held her gaze, concern in her amber eyes.

Weiss gave her a small smile, "I assure you I'm fine, Blake, although I appreciate your concern. I was just thinking about calling my sister. I never know when a good time to contact her is."

Blake let out a relieved sigh. Progress, she had managed to get Weiss to open up a bit and it wasn't uncomfortable for anyone. And it made sense, her actions till now. Weiss and Winter had a strained relationship, and while they both dearly cared for each other they weren't the best at expressing it. It was painful to watch, their interactions were cordial, excruciatingly formal. No wonder Weiss seemed stressed.

"Well, let me know if you want some help," she offered, turning back to her book.

"Careful Blake, I might just take you up on that," Weiss teased. It was an endearing sentiment from the otherwise reserved girl.

BANG!

"We're back!" came the twin greeting.

Well, it was a nice moment while it lasted.

A/N: Hello all. This was just a thought that came to me and I couldn't stop thinking about it and here is the end result. Not sure how long this will be, but I appreciate any and reviews. Please tell me what you think. On a side note this is AU and takes place during their second year at Beacon. The Vytal Festival came and went and Cinder didn't cause any heartbreak (too soon?). Also, the name of Weiss's father, Elfenbein is German for Ivory. Stay classy.

Edited to have Jacques' name match cannon.