RWBY: Revenant

By Endbeats

Chapter 33: BEFORE – Edelweiss, Part 2

Mom told me they had no issues getting to Vale. When they arrived, though, it wasn't long that Mom was pregnant with me.


"Honey, I'm home!" Agustus spoke loudly as he closed the front door to the small apartment.

Adya quickly got out of her desk chair with a big smile and came forward. She wrapped her arms around Agustus and gave him a kiss. "Welcome home."

Agustus warmly reciprocated the kiss with his own. "Glad to be home. How were your classes today?"

She sighed, her eyes half-shutting in exhaustion. "It's… tough. Medical classes are exhausting. Just today, we started talking about the make-up of RNA and the professor just went in expecting everyone to know what everything was!"

Agustus frowned and moved his fingers through her hair. He tried to comfort, "I know you can catch up. You're a smart woman."

Adya looked away shyly then spoke, "So what did you get for dinner?"

He grinned and raised his bag. "Good spoils at the market. Two instant noodle dishes and a few strange looking vegetables for just one lien."

"Give me the bag! You go clean up. You must be dirty after your first day at work!"

Work. So strange to hear that for the first time. Agustus had started his first job at a bank. It was ironic how the classes he so loathed helped him with a job that involved math and economics. That being said, he enjoyed the job, or at least the first day. He enjoyed that it was his own job, and not his family's job. He also enjoyed the fact that he was working for his wife, which he knew would give him hope even in the worst days. And, he enjoyed finally living, free from expectations and schedules. It was his life now. Agustus handed over the bag of food and walked into the bathroom for a good wash.

After a few nicotine patches, of course.


The couple sat at the small table they made together, eating the cheap food Agustus had picked up. The food was oily and bland. The table was wobbly and stained. The chairs were creaky and cracked. The walls gave off this moldy smell that the two had no yet grown accustomed to.

Yet, on nights like this, sitting across from the woman he loved made Agustus forget all of that. Even in silence, it was nice.

Tonight was different, though, once Adya put her fork down and sighed before speaking. "Agustus, we need to talk."

Agustus felt a little nervous at that and swallowed his last mouthful. "What's up?"

"I'm thinking of dropping out of school."

His eyes widened. "What?! Why are you saying that? Didn't you want to go to a university after all this time? It can't be that hard, can it?"

She looked away and blushed. "It's just there's… you know…"

"No, I don't know."

"Well, there's..."

"What is-"

"I'm late!" she blurted out, her face red with embarrassment.

"W-what, like you're late for a test or something? Grades are late? Or…. Oh." Like lightning, the meaning struck him, though the full emotional weight had yet to strike. Her tardiness was not at all related to schooling. It was elsewhere, and if what she said was true, then their life was going to change.

Agustus gulped and responded again to his red-faced wife with his own red cheeks. "Do you mean, like, a day? Two days?"

She closed her faunus eyes and loudly proclaimed, "More than two weeks!"

Oh, there's the emotional weight, Agustus thought as the truth rotated through his brain: They were going to have a child. Never before did he ever think he was going to have a kid. Before, it seemed like a pill. He'd never even entertained the thought of having a child. Yet now, he had no idea what he was feeling. He had no idea how he was going to even parent! He put his hand down and quickly tapped his fingers in anticipation.

"Wh… what are you thinking?"

"I don't know, honestly. I'm shocked more than anything"

Suddenly, Adya grabbed his hand and whispered, "Please don't run away."

That fearful request immediately shook him out of his stupor. Here he was thinking of himself while his wife worried that he would be too scared to share in parenting. He reprimanded himself for not thinking beyond himself. Agustus put his other hand on his wife's own extended arm. "I won't! Why would you think that? As long as this world still spins, I will always be with you. Sure, I was a little shocked, but I promise you I want to have this kid with you, Adya. The question is, do you truly want to leave university?"

She nodded with no hesitation. "I know it'll be a big sacrifice, but I care more about our child than my own education. Besides, with an office big-shot like you, we won't need to worry about money."

Agustus chuckled. "Yeah, I'm a big-shot, all right. First day on the job."

The two kept holding hands. "Promise you won't leave?" Adya asked.

"I promise until the day I die."


Some joke that promise was. My mom still waits to this day, thinking he'll appear out of thin air. I know the truth, however.

Anyways, where was I? Oh yeah, my mom told me about my birth multiple times.


Eight Months Later…

Time was passing at alarming speeds. One minute, Agustus and Adya were just arriving to Vale. The next, Adya had a larger, circular belly and couldn't be alone for fear that she'd go in labor alone. Thankfully, Juni came to town.

Agustus came inside to find Juni and Adya laughing. "I'm home!"

The two girls turned over, and Juni practically jumped up out of her seat. She leapt and gave her brother a large hug. "Agustus!"

"Hey, Juni," he reciprocated, "Thanks again for coming to help with Adya. I know you only just got your huntress license. You fine with missing some potential jobs?"

"You kidding? What's more important that family?" she said with a grin. Juni then gave room for Adya to come forward and kiss her husband hello.

"Glad to see your still doing well, honey," Agustus cheerfully greeted.

"Well we're very blessed to have your sister with us," Adya said before turning to Juni, "How about you stay for dinner?"

Juni waved her hands. "Oh no, I shouldn't! I think I'd just be intruding on you two."

"Not at all!" Agustus proclaimed. "You said yourself that we're family, so we'd be more than okay if you joined us."

His sister thought for a bit before nodding. "Alright, I suppose I can stay for dinner then."

"Great!" Adya said while clapping her hands. Suddenly, though, she had an astonished look upon her face and she swiftly moved to sit down.

"Are you okay?" Agustus asked with concern. He was hoping she wasn't going into labor.

"Y-yeah. Our little girl just amazes me with each kick." Adya had her hand on her round belly, which seemed to visibly move in a small pattern.

"What a kid," he marveled.

"Did you both think of a name?" Juni asked sitting down at the table near Adya.

The two smiled. "We were thinking of naming her 'Orphiuchus.'"

Juni tilted her head. "A girl? Orphiuchus?"

Her brother shrugged her shoulders. "We were just looking at the stars one night and thought it would be a good name for her."

"But, Orphiuchus? With a name like that, she'd be the school laughingstock! It doesn't even sound like a girl's name!"

"Alright, then," Adya spoke, "What do you suggest?"

Juni put her fingers to her chin as she thought. It took a minute, but pretty soon her eyes lit up. "What about just ending it with an 'a'? As in, Orphiucha? That sounds a bit more like a name a girl would have."

"'Orphiucha,' huh?" Agustus pondered, "That's not too bad."

"I think so, too," Adya agreed.

"See? Leave it to your sis to come up with your daughter's name!"

Agustus chuckled a bit, though not at the comment his sister made. He was just content. Here in Vale, he found his real family. A family that didn't force him to study things he hated. A family that didn't choose his entire schedule for him daily. A family that didn't ignore any of his personal opinions, likes, and dislikes. A family that, instead, loved him for who he was.

He couldn't be any happier.


Agustus opened the door to a fearful sight. A sight he only saw in his nightmares. A sight that made him want to vomit in fear, but not for his sake. For the sake of his wife.

Adya laid on the ground, grunting in pain as a puddle of water spread under her.

"W-w-w-w-what happened?" Agustus managed to stutter as he dashed to her side.

"I spilled a bucket of water all over our floor," she groaned sarcastically, "What do you think happened? I'm going into labor!"

"Where's Juni? Shouldn't she be here?"

"Ugh, don't worry about her. She went to get some dinner. Take me to the hospital!"

"O-okay, let me get the phone."

"There's no time. We gotta drive there!"

"Drive? But-"

"NOW!"


After a stressful trip of guiding Adya down the apartment stairs, driving to the nearest hospital, and helping her into the doors, Agustus now could only wait outside the delivery room. He was thankful they managed to get her medicated for the pain so that he didn't have to hear her scream, but that didn't make the wait any more unsettling. Each and every second felt like years to him. Pacing was all he could do. He was tempted to buy some cigarettes from next door, but he didn't want to get hooked on smoking again.

He was impressed at the speed by which the hospital accepted Adya, though. Hospitals in Atlas were far more segregated, many of which would outright refuse a faunus even in their dying moments. In Vale, however, along with being required by law to accept faunus, they seemed far more willing to help. They made the right choice in coming to Vale.

Suddenly a familiar voice came from behind. "Agustus! I just made it!"

Agustus turned around to find Juni running in the hall towards him, her curly white hair bouncing with each step. "Juni!" he said bitterly, "I thought you were watching Adya today!"

"I was, but I left to get food for dinner! You gotta believe me when I say that I had no idea she was going into labor! She looked perfect when I left!"

Agustus groaned and sat down at the bench across from the door. "It doesn't matter. At the very least we're here."

Juni sat down beside him. "So how long has she been in there?"

"Only ten minutes," he answered, "We're going to be here a long time."


One Hour in…

"Juni," Agustus asked, "What's going to happen starting today?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean will me and Adya's relationship change? How will it be like every day from now on, coming home to a wife and a daughter?"

"I don't know, but I'm pretty sure you won't hate it."


Two Hours in…

"How do I even hold a baby?"

Juni rubbed her eyes. "Come on, Agustus, are you saying you haven't held a baby in your entire life?"

"Between all the endless studying, not really."

"Then… take this pillow. Pull one of your arms close to your body, and bring your other arm in front of it."

"Like this?" Agustus asked as he awkwardly held a pillow close to his body.

"Almost. Now, you're going to want to…"


Three Hours in…

Agustus dropped the pillow. In any other circumstance, it would have just been a normal pillow, but in the context of the role play, it had far more meaning than that.

"I dropped a baby," he muttered.

"Agustus, it's a pillow. Don't overthink it. So you dropped it, big deal. Babies are far harder to drop than that."

"But… what if I drop Orphiucha? What will happen?"

Juni rubbed her brow in annoyance. "Look, Agustus, I know that you're panicking a bit right now, but don't look to me for answers. I don't even have a kid! Just… all your questions will be answered once you start living with your kid. Now, I'm going to take a nap. Don't ask me anything else," she grumbled as she laid down across the bench, her feet going behind Agustus' back.


It was five hours now. Agustus, unable to quell the unrest in his heart, started pacing back and forth in front of the door. He wanted so badly to run out. He wanted to escape what was happening. But, he knew he had to stand his ground. As a husband and a soon-to-be father, he was not going to leave.

Yet what should he do with this emotion? He had to admit that he was feeling the most in doubt he had ever felt. He was-

"Sir!" a nurse cheerfully announced as she came out, "The delivery was a success! Come on in!"


All Agustus could do was stare at the small entity in the crib next to his sleeping wife as it too slept. What was he feeling? He couldn't tell. It was like his legs were jelly. His mouth was dry. He couldn't understand what was going on. This was his daughter? How? What miracle created this tiny thing?

"Sir," the nurse said, "Would you like to hold her?"

"What?" Agustus asked, as if he didn't hear her.

The nurse simply sighed, then deftly picked up the baby from the crib without waking her. Finally, she came forward, and Agustus, caught in the corner, was forced to take the living thing. Once the nurse let go, he found that his arms were holding the baby on their own, and the small thing comfortably settled in. All he did now was stare down at the weak thing. The baby.

His child.

"Oh shoot, sorry!" Juni spoke as she came into the room. "I hope I didn't sleep through anythi- Agustus!? Why are you crying?"

Agustus tilted his head in confusion, but was surprised to feel tears on his cheek. "I… I don't know."

His sister came forward. "You're a father now. Maybe that's why… oh! Little Orphiucha woke up!"

As indicated, the baby in his arms opened its eyes and looked up with a scowl, and Agustus was amazed to meet a pair of green snake eyes, just like her mother's. Just as beautiful, too, and the sight of it made Agustus feel right. All the panic, all the nerves that plagued him before disappeared. It was his daughter. It was his Orphiucha.

Pride. Now he knew that that was what he felt. Pride in his daughter. Pride in his wife. Pride in their faunus lineage. Pride in their love. Pride in Juni, even. He felt so proud of his new family, a combination he never knew existed. He was proud of them. So much.

"Orphiucha," he muttered with a smile as he held her up, "My… daughter. My child. I'll never leave you or Adya's side. That's a promise."


Modern Day…

Orphiucha laughed bitterly. "'A promise,' my mother always told me. 'He made a promise.' Yet, where is he now? Gone."

"Well," Liu interrupted, "Where is he now?"

The girl sighed. "I'm getting there."

I told all about my father to show the reason why I'm so angry at him. It wasn't predictable. He left with no warning. Despite all that he was, he disappeared right in front of our eyes, with one final, empty promise before leaving forever...


Nine years ago…

"Orphiucha? Orphiucha! Is that a lollipop? Look at me when I'm talking to you, and stop shaking your chair!" Orphiucha's classroom teacher yelled at her. She couldn't help it, though. Today was her eighth birthday. She was going to spend the day with her mom and dad. Dad was going to get off work early. So was Mom. The two would meet her after school, and they would go to the new arcade in town. She was happy beyond belief.

Before the teacher could start ranting about Orphiucha's behavior, the bell rang, indicating it was time for class to end. On instinct, all the children stood up and starting packing their things up.

"Hey Orphiucha," her short, human friend asked, "Do you want to walk home together?"

Orphiucha shook her head as she put her backpack on. "Sorry, but I have to leave fast! Mom and Dad are doing something with me today!"

"Aww, okay," the friend responded, "Bye bye!"

"Bye!" Orphiucha said with a smile while running out the door, just before the teacher tried to approach her about her lollipop eating. She didn't have the time. She had to get home before her stomach burst from excitement. Unfortunately, the narrow hallways were already packed with groups of kids. She was thankful then that the entrance was just a few classrooms from her own class, though. She squeezed through the groups, some of whom moved away after seeing her eyes while others would stay their ground or even try to push her. However, Orphiucha used the skills Aunt Juni taught her and was able to get through without getting hurt, eventually making it to the entrance.

Soon, she made it out, and shielded her eyes as the sun's rays tried to attack her unaccustomed eyes. With a squint, Orphiucha determined where her path home was, and took it. She was practically running. It was the only way her emotions would let her move. She wanted to get home.

That was, until three boys with shaved heads got in front of her way.

"Hey, snake," the leader of the three said, "Where you going?"

Orphiucha sighed as she stopped. "I'm not in the mood to play today."

"You think we're playing? We're going to make you pay for what you did to us, snake."

"I didn't even hurt you guys!"

"You embarrassed us in front of everyone! We couldn't even hurt you. But now, we've learned how to fight better, and we're gonna make you pay, you dirty faunus!"

Orphiucha groaned and whispered to herself, "Most humans are good. Dad said most humans are good." She then looked up back, "Alright, bring it."

Immediately, the three boys ran forward and started swinging punches wildly. Any other kid would get beaten up badly, but Orphiucha had been lightly trained by Aunt Juni, a professional huntress. Dodging was her specialty. The eight-year-old girl moved out of the way slightly as the three older boys all missed their marks. One of them kicked and punched with no regard for those around him. Orphiucha had no issue dodging that, but the boy's lackeys did.

In a mere ten seconds, Orphiucha was running away, and the boys started fighting one another instead. She loved Aunt Juni for helping her with people like that. Her aunt also reminded her that humans were not all bad. After all, she was a human herself. Orphiucha was part-human, too. Her faunus side was just more obvious.

Orphiucha rubbed her eyes, thinking upon their shape for a bit before running again, out of excitement rather than fear.


The little girl walked into her parents' houses to find the place completely barren. Not a single soul walked inside. All she heard were the creaks from the floor as she walked through the room.

"Mom? Dad?" Orphiucha asked aloud. No one responded.

"Mom?" she said again, "Dad? Hello?"

Without warning, a pair of hands came around her and grabbed her by her torso. Orphiucha nearly yelped, but instead threw her fist up as fast as possible. She felt it hit something, and the hands moved away. Immediately, Orphiucha turned around and got in a defensive position, prepared to face the threat:

Her mom and dad.

"Jeez, Orph," Agustus muttered, rubbing his scruffy chin, "I can't believe your aunt taught you that!"

Mom merely laughed. "Well, it was your idea to surprise her."

"Daddy! Sorry! I'm sorry! Sorry!" Orphiucha promptly apologized while holding him in a hug.

"Orph, it's fine! It's my fault, kiddo. I just thought it would be fun to surprise you on your special day."

Orphiucha looked up. "R-really?"

Dad rubbed her head. "Really. Now finish your homework fast so we can go! Hurry!"

Mom laughed again. "You're both such children."

Agustus waved his hand. "Forget about her, Orph. Let's do your homework together so we can go out! I left work early after all!"

"Gotcha!" Orphiucha said with a nod. Before she could leave, however, the doorbell rang again.

The ring that would change everything.

"I'll get it," Adya proclaimed before walking to the door. Letting her do that, the two others walked to the kitchen table. Orphiucha threw her backpack onto the table while Agustus reached into the cupboard for a coffee cup. With a small pull, the girl brought out her notebook titled "Math" on the front.

"Math homework, huh? That's my specialty!" her dad said while looking over her shoulder.

"Hey, Dad?" she asked while opening the notebook and looking at her homework, "What's three times eight, then?"

"Three times eight? Well, first you gotta-"

Unexpectedly, Adya ran in with a look of panic on her face. "Honey, you have to come out here. It's them."

Agustus chuckled nervously. "What do you mean?"

"Atlas. Them."

Orphiucha's dad's face grew pale. Still confident, though, he rubbed his daughter's hair as he passed by her. "I'll be back, Orph. Work on some questions you know the answer to first."

Orphiucha tried to say something, but her dad already went around the corner into the small entrance hall. In exchange, her mom came in and sat down. However, she barely spoke a word. She didn't try to help Orphiucha with homework or give her a snack. Instead, she simply grabbed her daughter's hand and held on tight.

"Mom?"

"Oh, Orphiucha. Do you remember what I told you about your father?"

"You said… Dad was from another kingdom, right?"

"Well, some people from his kingdom are here."

On cue, Agustus walked past the kitchen into the living room, followed by two big guys in black suits. Just the sight of them gave Orphiucha chills and she too held tightly onto her mother's hand. She didn't know who they were, but they were bad news.

"Orphiucha," Mom muttered, "Why don't you do your homework in your room?"

Typically, she would refuse, but she would do anything to get out of the same area as those two weirdos. With no word, she grabbed her homework, bag, and pencils, and ran down the hall towards her room.


Two hours had passed. She already finished her homework except for the one question she had trouble with. Now all she did was wait for the trouble down the hall to end. She tossed her stuffed rabbit into the air to pass the time, always catching it to make sure it never hit the ground.

"Mr. Hops," Orphiucha interrogated, "Who are those people in the living room?"

No answer came out of the animal. Not that she expected it to. She rubbed the ears softly, thinking more and more on what was going on downstairs. What was going to happen? Were they going to celebrate her birthday? She was too confused to think about anything else.

With a groan, she put down Mr. Hops and got off her bed. Orphiucha walked over to her wardrobe and opened the door to reveal her mirror. She then stared deep into her snake eyes, a trait no one else seemed to have except her and her mother. The black slits were surrounded by a green iris. It was the only thing that got her attention in this stressful time. Why did she have this? Why did some classmates not like her for it? Mom said it was from her faunus traits, but what made faunus any different from humans? Other than the eyes and seeing a little better in the dark, she couldn't think of anything else. Thinking about this too much made her a little stressed.

So she made a few funny faces to get her hopes up.

Once a knock came from the door, however, she immediately fixed her face and made a sprint and a jump for her bed. Like an athlete, she hopped over the foot of the bed and landed softly on the mattress, just before her father spoke up, "Orph, kiddo. Can I come in?"

"Okay," she quietly pouted.

Upon that consent, the door opened and Dad walked in with a small frown. However, Orphiucha could see more than that. Her father was devastated, but was hiding those true feelings. Seeing that immediately made her stomach drop. He quietly sat down on the bed.

"Dad has some… bad news, kid. Those people downstairs want me to go with them for some work. Remember what I said about Atlas?"

Orphiucha didn't make a single sound in response.

"They're from there, and they want me to go with them. They want Dad to… oversee business. As in, now."

"Why… why do you hate me, Dad? Why are you going on my birthday?" Orphiucha felt tears go down her cheeks and, out of embarrassment, ducked under her covers. She didn't want to see anyone. She didn't want to hear anyone. She just wanted to hide. Hide in the darkest place of her room until those bad men downstairs disappeared.

However, she felt the presence of a hand outside of the covers touch her back. "Orphiucha! I don't hate you! You're my daughter and I love you more than anything!"

"But you're leaving on my birthday! You promised!"

"Orphiucha, I love you and your Mom… and that's exactly why I have to go. But, can I give you one more promise? That when I get back, we'll have an even bigger birthday celebration! We can go to all the arcades in the city! We can play until you get tired. And we'll eat cake until we vomit… then eat some more! How does that sound, Orph?"

The girl pulled the covers off of her and looked up at her father, the man who her hair the color it had. The man who always played with her when he got off work. The man who would do some of her chores when Mom gave her some. She had to place her trust in him.

Orphiucha wiped her eyes and nodded. "Okay, Dad. But don't break your promise!"

Agustus gave a small chuckle and nodded back, then acted as if he grabbed something in the air and stuffed it in his trousers. "I'll put the promise right in my pocket."

The little girl laughed back, but couldn't hold back the persistent sadness. She immediately grabbed onto her dad's torso. "I love you, Dad."

Her dad responded with wrapping his arm around her back and kissing the top of her head. "I love you, too, and I will be back."

She wished this moment would last forever. She wanted to remain in her dad's arms for years without end. The comfort it provided kept the little girl from focusing on the bad things in her life. Any confusion melted, and was replaced with a warm feeling deep in her heart.

If only it could last forever, she thought. If only...


One Week Later…

Orphiucha entered her house with a smile on her face. "Hello? Mom? Is Dad home yet?"

Her mother peaked out from the corner with a shake of her head. "No, Orph, but he'll be home soon!"

The girl groaned. "He's taking forever!"

"Just wait, I know he'll return!"


Two Weeks Later…

"Is Dad home yet?" Orphiucha still had her hopeful smile.

"No, but he'll be home soon!"


One Month Later…

She was still smiling. "Did Dad get home yet?"

"No, but I'm sure he's on his way!"


Two Months Later…

Her smile was gone. "Dad?"

"Not yet." Yet, Mom still smiled.


Six Months Later…

"Is Dad… is he home yet?"

No one answered in the house. Mom was working her new job still.


He never came home.


One Year Later…

Orphiucha sat in her small room, a downgrade from their old home. She supposed that must occur when only Mom was working. She sat in the room, silently, looking at her calendar. Today was her ninth birthday, and no one came home to celebrate. Mom, she understood. After all, she had to work more hours now. But Dad? What was a promise anymore? Nothing, it seemed.

She looked over at her dresser, where a few picture frames stood. One had a picture of her and her father. Sluggishly, she walked over towards it and picked up the photo with malice. She looked at her father, white hair, white beard, and in that instant, her love was replaced with a sense of bitter betrayal. Hatred. Disgust. Orphiucha touched her chest trying to grasp onto the emotions, but they were locked inside her ribcage. Was this… was this a human? Was this the truth behind what humanity was, and what faunus dealt with? Angrily, she squeezed onto the photo.

"He's not coming home, is he?" she muttered to herself. She gritted her teeth and, with speed she learned from her Aunt, ripped the photo into hundreds of pieces. She was finished with him. She didn't need him. Orphiucha had herself. She look in the mirror to reinforce this, but shock filled her once again when she saw her hair. Her white hair.

The same as his.

She dashed outside her room, through the creaky floors of the apartment, and slid into the kitchen. Once inside, she looked hastily for anything sharp. Any that could cut this reminder of… him off of her. She threw forks, spoons, and plates all around the floor, until she made it to the fifth drawer. With one swift pull, Orphiucha found the thing she wanted over a pile of other kitchen utensils: scissors.

The girl took a deep breath and stuck her fingers through the scissors' grip. She opened the device and, looking at the sharp blade, hesitantly brought it up. She grabbed a fist-full of hair on her right side and surrounded the clump with the scissors. Some small strands came off with the slide slit of the blades, but the rest remained. She needed to do it. She needed to forget. She needed to throw him out of her life.

She needed to forget. She needed to forget. She needed to forget. She needed to-

Orphiucha took another deep breath and closed her eyes.

Then, the door opened. "Orph? I got home early! Do you want to- AHH!"


Modern Day...

Orphiucha clinched her fist so hard, it looked as if she was about to cut her skin with her fingernails. She muttered through her teeth, "He never. Came. Home… Never. That was when I grew to hate both him and humans. I know that I was wrongly quick to hate all of humanity… but my father? It's not so easy to forgive. Especially while he's still in Atlas, living the life of wealth. Thus, I became determined to get a hunter's license so I could go to Atlas and find him."

"And then what?" Ursus asked.

She shrugged. "Maybe talk to him. Maybe slap him. Maybe… do even worse things. One thing is for certain: I want to find him."

Liu sat there trying to process the story he had been told about her and her father's story. Yet, he understood now why she was so hesitant to use her semblance: it came from him. It came from one of the most important people in her life: a man who disappeared. He knew using something like that was not easy.

"I'm… sorry, Orph," Liu responded.

She shook her head. "Don't be. This is my burden. By not protecting you, I threw it on you instead. I should be asking for forgiveness."

The group sat silently. Ursus in one corner, twiddling with his thumbs. Sagitari, looking down. And Liu, sitting there as he tried to think of what to say in the middle of the prominent silence. It looked as if Orphiucha was about to leave, and if he didn't say anything, she would disappear. He couldn't let it happen, but what should he say?

Well, there was one who managed to speak up.

"A burden," Sagitari spoke, "Is something that is inevitably shared between teammates."

"Tari?" Orphiucha questioned.

"Burdens are shared in Team SOUL. Whether it's Ursus' past acquaintances, Liu's inexperience, or your connection with your father, it should all be shared in the team."

"Shared? I thought you wanted to keep our pasts a secret?"

Sagitari looked away. "I know… and I was a crappy leader for doing that. Please, Ursus, Liu, Orphiucha… forgive me for not filling the role of a leader this mission. I would have let Orphiucha leave our team if you two didn't bring us together tonight."

"It's no big deal," Ursus replied, "I didn't want her to leave, after all."

Liu nodded. "R-right!"

Sagitari smiled a little, then stood up and walked to Orphiucha. The faunus flinched back when the team leader reached her hand out. "Can you forgive me?" Sagitari voice cracked as she teared up, "Sister?"

Orphiucha stared for a bit, then smiled back and grabbed her hand in a shake. "I haven't heard that name in a long time."

However, the girl then pulled Sagitari closer and embraced her. "I'm so sorry," she mumbled to her, just barely audible for Ursus and Liu.

Sagitari put her hands around Orphiucha's back and hugged back. "I'm sorry, too."

The two girls, like siblings, made up and kept one another in a sisterly embrace. The sounds of quick breaths from tears came up as often as the two apologized to one another. It was as if the two girls were reuniting in more than just the issue from this trip. It was like they pushed aside problems of their past. As if the promise they made was, in truth, pulling them apart from one another.

"Such a touching moment," a familiar voice appeared, making Liu jump. Orphiucha and Sagitari quickly pulled back and got into a defensive stance towards the sound. Out from the shadow of the airship came Kang Xiu, and the sight of him made everyone ease up. He was carrying a folder in his hand.

He continued, "Sorry, but I heard you plan on looking for your father, Orphiucha?"

She nodded. "I know he's out there. I have to find him."

Kang then opened the folder. "After meeting you on the first day of our assignment, I got a bit curious. So every night since then, I've been doing research on your father, trying to find where he went. I did know him for a time, after all, so I was a bit worried."

"So that's why you're always waking up later?" Liu asked.

"And? Is he in Atlas?"

Kang shook his head. "No. He's in Vale."

The four literally jumped in shock. "What?!" Orphiucha loudly interjected.

Liu's father read his folder. "Nearly nine years ago, he returned back to Vale. Even after a ship crash, records state that he arrived on land safely. The facts get a little vague, but from what I've searched, he made it to a town called Dandelion."

"He… he's alive?" Orphiucha marveled.

"I don't see anything that says he's dead."

The girl looked around a bit, paced a few steps, and then continued questioning once she regained eye contact. "Where is Dandelion?"

Kang shook his head. "Sorry, Orphiucha, but I can't let you go on your own."

Orphiucha stepped forward. "You don't understand this, sir. I need to do this. I need to confront my father and find out why he never came back."

"Dad," Liu added, "Let her go… No, let us go. Please."

"I will follow her as well," Sagitari agreed.

Ursus nodded.

Kang, met with such a close team relationship, smiled. "I never expected you'd have a team this strong, Liu. But, don't think I'm keeping you from going. I just said I won't let you go on your own."

"So does that mean…?" Liu asked.

"Yes, Cam, Sagino, and I are coming along!"

The three kids cheered while Orphiucha gave a small smile.

Kang turned around and walked towards his tent. "I'll give you thirty minutes," he spoke, "Pack your things and then we'll head out."

"But what about our mission?" Orphiucha added in another question.

"We'll burn that bridge when we come to it."

"But it's night," Ursus added.

"Then drink some coffee."


The group was back in the air, flying over the forest that they had grown so accustomed to over this past week. It was practically their second home, and they had to say goodbye to it. Liu merely stared out the window at the greenery below with a small bittersweet feeling in his heart. It was just a forest, but it was where he gained some of his strength. He even felt like waving towards the ground.

"Crazy time, huh?" Ursus initiated.

"Yeah. Now we're traveling across the continent."

Ursus nodded and looked out the large, horizontal window as well. Perhaps he was feeling the same sadness as well, Liu pondered. With a sigh, he closed his eyes.

"Thanks, Liu."

Immediately, Liu opened his eyes and looked at Ursus confusingly. "What do you mean?"

"If it wasn't for you, our team wouldn't have gotten back together. So, thanks."

"You helped as well."

"You started it, though."

Liu shook his head. "Even so, I just did what Sagitari or you would have done."

"Would I have done that?" Ursus asked with a genuine look of deep thought on his face.

"What, you don't even know yourself?"

"Who knows who they are?" Ursus asked.

"I didn't know you were a philosopher!"

Ursus chuckled with his deep voice.

Before they could speak again, a loud siren came on, getting the two's attention. It confounded them, but Liu took this to mean they had to get to his father. Swiftly, he jumped off his chair, with Ursus following behind. The two then made a mad dash into the hallway, all the way down towards the bridge. What could it be, Liu wondered. With a push on the last door at the end of the path, the two entered in the wide bridge where Cam, Sagino, Kang, Orphiucha, and Sagitari stood. They all seemed to have a look of uncertainty on their faces.

"What's going on?" Liu inquired.

His father looked up from the radio at the front of the bridge. "It's Dandelion, Liu. It's under attack from grimm."


(Author's Note: Hey! Thanks for reading this chapter of RWBY: Revenant! I hope the story has caught your attention. If you like it, why don't you give a follow, a favorite, or a review to keep yourself updated? The story is still kicking, after all! I'm also excited for this next chapter... though it may take a while. It's one of those rather long chapters, maybe even longer than this one. Anyways, have a good night/day and God bless!)