Chapter 2: Memorial

Ruby's funeral was by far the most solemn day her teammates and friends had dealt with. None of them could finish their eulogies without breaking down in grief. This was especially true with Yang, the sole surviving member of her family.

"Ruby was not just a sister, but THE best sister I could ever ask for," Yang said, "she was the reason I'm still alive. When my mother died protecting me, Ruby knew what to say and do to lift me back up onto my feet. She hugged me tight, and told me that not everyone lives happily ever after, but that doesn't mean we can't try to give people a better life than we had. She always prioritized others, including me, before her own mental health and well-being. It still hurts me whenever she suffered injuries protecting me after watching me fall to what we all thought was death, more than the anger she expressed when we met again on that island with two suns. 'You shouldn't have taken that blow from Neo for me,' she said, 'I deserved it for what I put us all through.'"

Yang was starting to lose her composure as she struggled to continue. "Seeing her sacrifice herself is something that kills me everyday. I wake up at night because I keep seeing that morbid memory. W-what's worse is that it was always followed b-by Cinder appearing afterward. She laughed like the soulless monster she was and said, 'it's all your fault…' I-I keep s-seeing that same i-image every time I try to slee-sle…"

Yang trailed off as she lost it, covering her face as she wept. Blake was quick to come up and ease her away from the stand, which she very much appreciated, as she clung to her beloved partner as if she would disappear too if she didn't.

When it was all done, they buried Ruby by the cliff, where her mother's grave was marked. It was also where they marked the graves of the rest of Team STRQ. Yang had the sentiment that her parents' team should be together in death, and wanted the same to be done with Team RWBY.

"That way," she explained to Weiss and Blake, "we can feel like we will be together again, no matter how long it will take. We don't have to have our burials by each other's side of it doesn't sound good to you-"

"Of course it sounds good, Yang," Weiss interrupted, "you, Blake, and Ruby have meant everything to me. You still do. I'd follow you three anywhere if it meant you would be a part of my life." She was thoughtful as she expressed herself to the blonde huntress.

"And don't forget, Yang," Blake added, moving to gently cup Yang's cheek in her hand, "it's what Ruby would want. For us to stay together, be it life or death. I can say the same to you, her, and Weiss if I was the first of us to pass on. I wouldn't even hold it against you if you find someone else to-"

Yang cut her off in the most Yang way possible. She kissed her, and after the startle passed, Blake blissfully relaxed in her loving embrace. When they broke out of the kiss, they just stared lovingly at each other until Yang spoke up.

"I love you Blake. You're the only one for me."

Blake shed a tear at hearing that. "I love you too, Yang." She then rested her forehead on Yang's. It was a more silent, mutual expression of their love. They then heard a sniff let out by Weiss, and quickly broke away from their embrace.

"S-sorry!" Yang stammered, "we shouldn't be expressing this in front of-"

"No, no! No hard feelings," Weiss interjected. "I'm just happy that you two are at least together." She then looked down with sorrow clear in her face. "Meanwhile, I failed my partner, and now I'm alone because she's dead…"

"You are not alone…" both Blake and Yang said, then they went to hold Weiss in their arms. Weiss squeezed them in appreciation of their gesture.

They stayed long after they were done burying her casket. Jaune and Oscar stayed too. They understood the grief the remnants of Team RWBY were dealing with. Ren was killed by Tyrian before Jaune and his group returned in Vacuo, while Nora died after their return taking out Cinder, overcharged by the former Fall maiden's excessive lightning.

"Do you… think she's at peace now that Remnant- I mean Earth- is saved?" Jaune asked to no one in particular.

"Why wouldn't she be?" answered Yang. "She doesn't need to keep fighting anymore. She doesn't have to live to see us die. I feel it was as if she died first because she didn't want to lose anyone else."

Jaune nodded. "Just like how Ren told me that he and Nora didn't want to lose me too after we saw Pyrrha's statue in Argus…"

"Statue?"

Jaune turned in response to everyone's gasp. They all missed Pyrrha too, but they never knew she had a memorial. "I never mentioned that?" Jaune sighed. "I guess I was too caught up with my talk with them and my apology to Oscar that I never brought it up with you guys."

"I saw it too," Oscar said, getting everyone's attention. "I saw her statue while I went out that day. I… didn't realize that was Pyrrha until you mentioned it." He then hugged his hurting friend, and Jaune just sniffed as he hugged him, soon joined by Weiss, Blake, and Yang.

"We really need to be more open with each other about these things," Yang said. "I always thought talking would make you feel better."

"And Ruby barely talked about her problems before we fell," Jaune said sadly. No one said another word, but the group thought they heard familiar voices whisper to them in the wind.

"Carry on. Move on. Live on. I'll always be with you."

"Everything's alright now. We're closure ready!"

"We all found peace in death. We hope you find peace in yourselves."

"We're together over here. Together-together in fact."

"I'm still here for you. Do you still believe that, Jaune?"

"Yes, Pyrrha… I do…"

Author's note: I think you know who those voices at the end belong to. Anyways, Chapter 2 has passed and I'm going to do more because I feel at ease writing this bittersweet fan-fiction during this RWBY drought/hiatus. This was going to be a chapter where someone else from Team RWBY dies, but became something more fluffy. I also have the feeling that Jaune is going to outlive his teammates, and maybe even lose one during his absence from Remnant.