Wow, over 20 people following this little story of mine. You guys are awesome.
Okay, I promise not all my stories are going to be angsty and depressing. I'm just in the middle of exams and any university student can tell you how stressful that is. Anyways, this is part 2 of what will be a three part story. Might have an epilogue afterwards, but I'll see how I'm feeling about the story at that point. It will probably be a pretty short epilogue anyways. So for now, enjoy this next part.
Weiss shouldered her travel pack once more. There was still light seeping through the trees, but it was descending quickly. They would only have another hour or two before they would need to make camp for the night. Another day gone with no sight of their friend. Aside from the clear burn marks on the occasional tree or shrub which pointed them in the right direction, it was almost peaceful. Blake was quiet as usual. At least she didn't have her head in a book as they were walking. Instead, they were shoulder to shoulder, steps matching each other's pace.
It spoke to how well they knew each other that they could let the silence linger for so long without the need to fill it with their voices. That, or they were still unsure of what they were going to do once they found Yang. If they found her in time.
"We're going to reach Yang." Blake picked up on Weiss's sullen expression immediately, breaking the white-haired girl from her unhelpful thoughts.
"I know," Weiss huffed. She wiped sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. They were going the right way. They had only been searching for a few days now. Blake had quickly found Yang's trail a day before and they had made good time.
From what headmaster Ozpin had told them, Yang was moving slowly. At their current pace, they would reach her before she reached Saishu Kioku. It was a good feeling. To know that they were going to save lives. Trying to save lives. It was a better feeling to know that they would be seeing Yang again, no matter the state she was in.
"You're doing it again." Blake commented, eyes staring straight ahead.
Weiss scowled. "I never took you for someone who cared for what goes on in my head."
"I don't." Blake replied evenly. After a moment, she spoke out once more. "Yang would have made a joke about that."
"Probably something sexual," Weiss snorted. "Something like 'I would love to know what filthy thoughts go on in your head, ice queen'."
"Nah, that's too broad. It'd be more 'So which one of us is naked in that head of yours'."
Weiss laughed, "She'd say it was Ruby and Ruby would turn all red and shy and shout Yang's name and-"
Her laughter immediately stopped. The joking stopped. What replaced was something they were starting to grow used to. The unbearable heavy silence. Too many memories had been shared by Team RWBY. Just a single year they had known each other. And yet, they were all as close as family. In some cases, closer.
Weiss felt an arm around her body, squeezing her gently. "I miss my partner. As annoying and energetic as she was."
"I do too. I miss my partner as well."
Yang was never quite the same after that day.
"Come on. Just a few more kilometers and then we can stop for the night." Weiss picked up her pace, breaking free from Blake's embrace.
The trek resumed. A few words were shared, but it was mainly light conversation. Nothing more than discussions of the weather. Or the setting. Or the weather again. Neither wanted to be the first to talk about what truly bothered them. What truly mattered.
"Ruby was the kindest, gentlest person I ever knew. I first met her by shear coincidence, bumping into her because I wasn't paying attention to anyone but myself and my dust. She just barreled into me. And like myself, I blamed my idiocy on her. I yelled, calling her a dolt and a child who had no place in Beacon. What she did to respond? She sneezed fire dust, exploding her and I… me and her." Weiss paused, eyes closed.
"Ruby Rose was the first person I could truly call a friend. Someone who did not care about my last name, nor my icy exterior. She wanted to know me for me. To be my best friend and the best partner and team leader she could be. I didn't say it, especially not to her, but she was-is my best friend. Nothing will change that."
Weiss stepped away from the headstone and into the arms of her teammates. The embrace was warm, but it was clearly missing their hyper-active leader. The one who would have initiated the hug and forced them into submission until she gave them permission to break it. None of those remaining wanted to break it. Jaune had begun speaking and they still held onto one another.
"Ruby was the first person I met at Beacon. I lifted her off the ground where she was lying down on the very first day we had arrived. We both got lost." Jaune laughed nervously, scratching his back. "We were both made team leaders and we brought our teams closer together. Team RWBY will always be our sister-team no matter what. But… but what I wanted to tell all of you, was when I gave up on myself. I was the worst in the class and I wasn't getting better. I wanted to do everything by myself. To try and improve by myself with no help from anyone. And that's where Ruby came in. Seeing me wallowing in pity on the hallway floor. It took her just one conversation to set me straight. She told me that it was no shame in getting help and that a true leader wouldn't back down from accepting it. She-Ruby was the leader I wanted to be like. Even two years younger, she was who I hoped to be when I got older. Who I dreamed of becoming like. And now, I will try and continue her dream. As I hope she would have wanted us to. To help people."
Jaune left soon after. He was strong and confident in his speech like he rarely every was, but the tears forming in his eyes showed a different story. One of a young man whom had lost someone he cherished so much.
The speeches continued. But not many in JNPR or what was left of RWBY paid much attention. Qrow had not even shown up. When Yang asked her father, he told her that he rarely did to these types of things. He wasn't at Summer's funeral either. But he assured her that Qrow would be mourning her in his own way. And would be at her grave site eventually. When the initial pain wore off.
"I found out something new about my semblance." Yang said, drawing the attention of her teammates and those of their sister-team as they sat on the wet grass. Yang pulled a single blade from the ground and twisted it in her fingers.
"And?" Blake nudged, trying not to rush the heartbroken sister.
"I always thought that my semblance fed off of physical blows. Physical pain. Apparently it's just pain in general. No need for the physical."
The group was unsure of how to respond to Yang's remarks. There was no cheer or levity in her voice. There never was. Not since Ruby.
"I don't know how long I'll be able to fight it. I'm fighting against my inner self. One day, I'll snap. I'm already broken."
Blake placed a hand gently on Yang's knee, reassuringly. "You aren't broken. Your just in pain."
"Ruby was everything happy and good in my life. There isn't anything left to be happy about anymore."
