I dedicate this story, and all off my RWBY fics, past, present, and future, to the brilliant man who gave us the world we've been waiting for all our lives without even knowing it.

We miss you Monty, the world's creative glow is darker without your light, but we will carry the torch regardless.

Chapter 10:

What the Soul Needs

Ruby, Beacon Year two…

To say Ruby was ecstatic to be returning to Beacon Academy after summer break was an understatement. This was evident by her bouncy and cheerful demeanor while they rode the dust plane towards the legendary huntsmen school.

"I can't wait to reunite with Weiss and Blake!" Ruby practically squealed to Yang, who was sitting beside her as she chatted amicably about all the reunion celebration plans she had prepared.

"It will be good to see the old gang again," Yang agreed, "Weiss, Blake…

"Ren, Nora…" Ruby added.

"Neptune and Sun," Yang added as well.

"…Jaune…" Ruby said in a whisper, she felt an arm going around her shoulders as Yang gave her a gentle squeeze.

"Don't worry Rubes, I'm sure Jaune has recovered, It's been half a year," Yang assured, "He's bound to be feeling better by now,"

"I know it's just that…" Ruby started in a quiet voice.

"Look, I know you still care about him deeply, we all do," Ruby gave a suspicious look, "You know what I mean,"

"I know, it's just… what have I done lately for him, he was in a tough spot and I just hung in the background, not doing anything to help him, I feel as though we drifted apart," Ruby said in a deflated tone, she felt another Squeeze around her shoulders from her sister.

"Don't worry about the past, just be there for him in the present, just be a friend, and who knows, something might blossom from it," Yang reassured Ruby with a warm smile.

At that moment, the dust plane landed at the Beacon cliff and the students departed unto the platform. Ruby's eyes lit up at the sight of Weiss and Blake chatting just off to the side.

"Weiss! Blake!" Ruby shouted as she tackled her teammates to the ground, crushing them in a big hug.

"Ouch…" Blake said dazedly.

"GET OFF OF ME YOU DOLT!" Weiss managed to scold through partially crushed lungs.

"Why would I let go, I missed you guys?!" Ruby squealed in delight.

"Maybe because we can't breathe," Blake said in a calm yet strained voice, this caused Ruby to finally let go.

"I CAN'T WAIT TO SHOW YOU WHAT I HAVE IN STORE FOR OUR REUNION PARTY!" Ruby exclaimed.

"Please don't say it," Weiss warned quietly, knowing full well what Ruby was going to suggest.

"We'll go shopping for weapon augments," Ruby announced.

"She said it," Weiss said miserably.

"Start a massive food fight with Teams JNPR and SSSN,"

"Predictable," Blake said nonchalantly.

"And…" Ruby started to say, but was distracted by the sight of Jaune walking off a different dust plane, "Hey! Jaune,"

Jaune turned his attention to Team RWBY and waved at them as he walked over, "Hey, what's happening?"

"Ruby's going over her plans for a 'reunion party'" Weiss said as she pinched the bridge of her nose in irritation.

"Cool, mind if me and my team join in on the fun," Jaune asked.

"Oh… a sure," Ruby agreed, "it wouldn't be the same without you,"

"Good," Jaune stated as he headed off, "Anyway, I got to find Nora and Ren, so see you around, Ruby, Weiss Blake… Yang,"

Ruby noticed how Jaune addressed Yang nervously, but shrugged it off as she watched Jaune walk off, had she been looking at Yang, she'd noticed the nervous blush.

V

Jaune, present day…

"And what happened after she kissed you?" Dr. Cran asked as Jaune relayed what had happened over the past two days.

Jaune released a heavy sigh before saying, "Then I left, telling her that I can't be with her,"

"And why is that Jaune?" Dr. Cran asked.

"Because I don't feel the same way as she does," Jaune admitted truthfully, or at least what he felt was the truth.

"I don't think that's true Jaune," Dr. Cran stated as she wrote something in her clipboard, "You tried to kiss her the previous night while you were drunk, a drunk man's actions are often a sober man's thoughts. So tell me the real reason you left her,"

"Because I don't think it will work out," Jaune said after some thinking.

"And why is that?" Cran pressed further.

"I don't know, just… because," Jaune said nervously.

"Is it because you're afraid of losing her like you did Pyrrha and Yang?" Dr. Cran questioned.

"No… er, a… yes, no, I-I mean…" Jaune released another heavy sigh, "Look I don't to experience that loss again, I don't want to be given happiness only for more pain to come,"

"So to avoid the pain of loss, you're denying yourself happiness," Cran clarified, "Jaune, that's causing you pain anyway, the soul wants to bond with others, dare I say it needs to bond in order to remain healthy,"

"But what if she leaves, or we find out we're not good for each other or, or if she dies,"

"Jaune, everyone dies, it's part of nature, but if you linger on death, you'll never get to live," Cran explained, "What's important is the experiences we had with those who are gone, and honoring them, not grieving on the loss, but be thankful that they were in our lives,"

"So what do you expect I do?" Jaune asked.

"That's for you to decide,"