Many cried. Some merely stood silent. But all kept still in respect as the casket sank. A firing squad raised their rifles and shot into the air as a trumpet player played a melancholy sound-off. Weiss and Blake stayed still and bowed their heads as they silently wept. Yang held her younger sister, who struggled to keep from sobbing, as close as she could. Ruby wanted to be strong for her team. She sniffled and tried holding back her tears, but she still fought to keep it in. Even after the reset of her team came and each put a hand on her shoulder, she struggled to stay strong. Jaune shook as he tried to remain stoic. Pyrrha grabbed his hand and gave him a look telling him it was okay. It was okay for him to rest his head on her shoulder, and let it out. As he sobbed, she put an arm around him as she began shedding tears of her own. Nora fought to keep a big smile for them, in spite of the rivers running from her eyes. Lie Ren upheld his vow of silence without so much as a sigh but still looked upon the grave with a pained look.
In the very back, a small girl in a large suit of armor watched the funeral. Though her face was covered by her helmet, she still did her best to keep her pain hidden. Her partner sat on her armored shoulders. His faunus wings hung limp while he rested his arms on the top of her helmet.
"I...I just can't believe it." he finally said, "It's just...none of this...It doesn't feel real." What Kikuchiyo said was exactly what she was thinking. He had a way of doing that.
"Believe it, Kurosawa." Ishmael told his teammate, "One day, it'll be one of us in that casket. All we can do about that is make due with the time we have. The Reaper comes for all of us sooner or later, and he doesn't usually knock."
Professor Ozpin walked up to the podium. He stoically looked upon the crowd and gave the eulogy.
"Today, we say our farewells to a dear friend. Every one of our lives, he has touched positively in one way or another. He was an inspiration to all of us. And I know that many of you are in pain. But know that this too...This too shall pass. To honor him would not be to stay stagnant in our grief, but to move foreword. Everything he has given us, we will carry, and we will keep moving foreword. We will not forget, but will cherish his memory by moving foreword. He was a fine warrior, a true master at his craft, and...And an incredible human being. He has earned his rest. And he will be missed."
Time passed, many others stepped up to say a few words as the coffin was properly buried, and the crowd slowly dispersed and shrank. Team RWBY still stood in place. Their leader shook and sighed as she stared at the grave stone.
"Ruby, if you need more time..."
"I...I just don't know if I'm ready to say goodbye."
"You know, mom hated goodbyes. She always said that if you don't say goodbye, then it's like you aren't really gone. You're just not here right now."
"Thanks, sis."
"Are you gonna be okay?"
"Yeah. I'll catch up with you in a bit."
Yang let go of her sister and gave a nod to the rest of the team. The three girls left their young leader to herself.
"Alright, let's get out of here." Ishmael said to his own team. Tomoko, however, did not move.
Before he hopped off, Kikuchiyo knocked on her helmet. "Alright, Tincan Hitman. Time to go."
Tomoko just looked at him. Though her face was hidden, he still could still read her clear as day.
"Okay." he replied, "Meet you back at the dorm, then." He signaled to rally up and followed his other comrades. As they left, they heard the massive footsteps of her giant suit.
As she got closer to the grave, she passed Team RWBY. She found their leader standing in front of the grave. She knelt next to her and took her helmet off. For a while, they remained silent.
"It's weird, isn't it?" Tomoko finally said, "I hardly even knew him, but when I heard...I just... He just helped me so much more than he'll ever know. I...I don't think I'm ready to say goodbye."
"Well...Then don't say goodbye. My mom...She hated goodbyes. She said that if you don't say goodbye, then you aren't really gone. You're just not here right now."
"What...What do I say then?"
Ruby pondered this for a moment. What do you say, if not goodbye? Then, she finally broke. She fell to her knees and sobbed loudly as it finally came to here. The only thing she could say. The only thing that needed to be said. Tomoko followed suit once she came to the same conclusion. When they were ready, the two huntresses collected themselves and said it together...
"Thank you."
In Memory of Monty Oum (1981-2015) Thanks for everything.