AN: It had to happen in this story. I have used a two month time skip. Unfortunate, but I simply can't make this fic Slice of Life.

Disclaimer: Song used is Die by Jeff Williams.

Year 1: Tears of Loss

Azure's POV

The beams of sunlight wake me up. I get up and yawn before heading to the shower. All said, school isn't that bad. The tests suck, but at least with Rex's help, I'm keeping up with the rest of the year. Besides, the fighting classes are so much fun.

After getting dressed, I head out, only to pause at Rex's door. Its quiet. I should hear him doing his morning workout right now.

I knock on the door, but he doesn't answer. I knock again, this time with urgency. He's still not answering! Something's wrong. Never tried Shifting someplace I can't see before, but I've been in there enough to know where I can stand. I Shift inside, only to see Rex is totally fine, physically anyways. He is sitting on his bed half-dressed, blankly staring at his sword propped up on the wall.I move towards him. "Rex? Are you okay?"

(Get out.)

"What's wrong with you? You're just sitting there. We promised to back each other up, no matter how bad it is. You can trust me."

(Leave. Me. Alone.)

I reach out for Rex's shoulder, but he slaps it away. "I will be out later today. Now what part of GET OUT did you not understand?"

Angry Rex is better than nobody's there Rex. "I can't just leave yo-"

(GET THE FUCK OUT!)

Wincing at the force of his mental shout, I walk back into the hallway and head over to Haley's room. As I reach the door, I catch the tail-end of a conversation. "-promise to see you over the break. I miss you too."

I quickly back away so it doesn't look like I was eavesdropping. Haley opens the door and waves once she sees me. "Azure, surprised to see you this early. Something up?"

"Rex isn't talking to me."

"What's weird about that? He barely talks to anyone. Hell, he rarely even approaches people if you aren't with him."

"Repeat, me. He may be antisocial, but he always talks to me. Something is wrong with him and I can't get him to fess up."

"Tell me what happened."

I sigh. "I leave my room, but Rex is completely silent. He always does his morning workout. He wouldn't answer the door, so I had to break into his room with my Semblance, turns out I can Shift through solid objects for the record, and he's staring into space. He starts telling me to get out, while I'm trying to get him to tell me whats wrong. He says he'll show up later today."

"Let's go to class, you'll see him there."

We head to Professor Dusty's history class. However, Rex doesn't show up to class, and I'm distracted by the lack of his presence. He breaks a schedule he's followed for months and skips class.

"-TOR!"

I shake my head. "Yes sir?"

"Could you please answer the question I asked you?"

Oh crap. How long was I sitting there? "Could you... please repeat it for me?"

"What was the Great War fought over?"

Thank Dust I actually know this one. "...The Great War was fought due to the oppression of the individual. It was in defiance that the trend of color names became popular, a trait that has passed on to today."

"Correct. Please see me after class for your little daydream."

I sigh, and attempt to keep track of the lesson, but my gaze keeps glancing over to the doorway, hoping Rex would walk in. After the class ends I walk up to the Professor's desk.

"Miss Raptor, I am disappointed in your lack of focus today."

"My friend has be-"

"What is happening to Mr. Rex is not to distract you from your studies. If he does not wish to join class today, it is not to affect you again."

"Yes, sir."

As I leave he calls out. "Miss Raptor, your heart is in the right place. That concern for others is a sign of a true Huntress."

Its not for others. Only Rex. "Thank you."

I meet up with Haley again and brush off the talk as just a reprimand. The rest of the classes pass, but Rex still doesn't show up. "I'm starting to get really worried. Rex's word is absolute. He said he would show up. He doesn't break his promises."

All of a sudden a voice comes from behind us. "What exactly did he say?"

We turn around to see the monkey Faunus from our first day standing behind us, a lopsided grin on his face. "He said 'I'll be out later today.'"

"Dracul was always like that. He had you thinking one thing while meaning another. He said he'd be out, he never said he'd show up."

I look at him. "Who are you and why do you know Rex?"

He starts rubbing the back of his head. "My name is Sun Wukong. I'm an old friend of Drac- Rex."

Haley starts thinking. "If you know Rex, could you explain why, according to Azure, he's acting unusually."

"Rex is vastly different from the Dracul I used to know, so he's always unusual to me. I really ca- wait a sec. I forgot. That's today?"

We both start staring at him. "Enough with the weird looks. Today is Morgana's birthday." Seeing our confused looks he continues on. "Morgana is the name of Rex's kid sister. She was the sweetest little girl I ever met. Rex practically worshiped her, making sure she was always happy. All of our friends loved her."

Haley looks hopeful. "I've never heard anything about Rex having a sister. She must of been the cutest little pup."

Sun starts to chuckle nervously. "Well, you see... Morgana was human, not Faunus. Rex was adopted when he was seven."

Both of us look away. I never knew Rex lost his parents. Wait... "I met Rex in Vale. He never mentioned he had a sister, adopted or otherwise. If he loved her as much as you say he does, why was he living alone without her?"

Sun looks at the floor. "I don't know. They were both orphaned again a few years back, but they kept on with their lives with as much self-reliance they could. Then they stop showing up and Rex sells the house before leaving Vaccuo. The connection there is probably the cause of Rex's weirdness today. Actually, I saw him headed to the roof. Try something."

I smile. "Thanks Sun."

Me and Haley charge up the stairs, but I pull her back when I start hearing something. I gesture for her to quiet down and we start listening. Is Rex... singing?

It was just fine, we lived in peace
Looked to a happy ending
The days were bright, they shined like gold
Every step ascending
Our dreams came true, our path was clear
The moon watched safely from above
But every smile is not the same
And every heart's not filled with love for mankind
Look around, it's getting very hard to find
Not every open wound is simply healed by time
But revenge is always sweet and chaos is the prize

Feel it everywhere and you see it growing
Enemies arise, and the hate is flowing
Shattering the moon and bloodying the sky
The machines of war will fuel both sides
And the greed will only grow more lies
Farewell to days of peace 'cuz now it's time to
Die

Where did it go?
Our peaceful youth seems to be gone forever
And in it's place a life of war
Every truce has severed
We'll live our lives watching our backs
Not knowing who to trust or fear
The hate just swallows all the love
And all the truth will disappear
Lost and blind
Seems our dreams of peace have all been left behind
It's always said white clouds aren't always silver lined
But the future's looking bleak
And the storm is set to rise

Say goodbye
Time to Die
Say goodbye (Just say goodbye)
Time to Die (Die...)

Feel it everywhere and you see it growing
Enemies arise, and the hate is flowing
Shattering the moon and bloodying the sky
The machines of war will fuel both sides
And the greed will only grow more lies
Farewell to days of peace 'cuz now it's time to
Die!
Die!
Die!
Die

I raise my hand to my face, surprised that Rex's voice has driven me to tears. I look over, and I see that Haley is also tearing up. We walk up the last few steps and see Rex staring out to see the city.

"Rex?"

He turns around, and I see that his eyes are red from his own tears. "Hey."

I walk up to him. "This is all about Morgana, isn't it?"

Rex clenches his hands into fists. "Its not right. She was the most innocent person there was. She had a future! And everything was torn away because I wasn't strong enough to stop it! "

Haley places her hand on Rex's shoulder. "I know what its like to lose the ones you care about. You can't keep beating yourself up because she's dead."

Rex starts to growl. "She isn't dead! If she was, I could move on. No, I will find her again, and when I do, I will be strong enough to take her back home. That is why I'm here."

He grabs Haley's hand and I start to fear he'll break it. However Haley ends up pulling Rex and flips him onto the ground. "How... did you... to Rex?"

Haley looks on with shock and runs back downstairs. I debate chasing after her for answers, but decide to take care of Rex instead. "You okay? How did you not react to that?"

"I'm fine. She didn't think, that's why I was unready for it. When I grabbed her, all I could get out of her mind was 'threat', and she's already throwing me. Maybe its better, the pain cleared my head. I can't just... mope here when I need to get stronger."

"Rex, you aren't alone anymore. I can help you. You don't need to shoulder this burden by yourself."

For the first time since I've met him, Rex was smiling off the battlefield. "Thank you. Maybe there is light to pierce the darkness after all."

WN: Surprise! Rex does have a sensitive side. He just doesn't like showing it.

Before anyone laughs, the history teacher being 'Dusty' was not a planned joke. Dusty was actually an OC I designed way back when I first came up with Rex and Azure. He was part of team SWRD, which Rex was actually a part of originally. He had the sort of open-mindedness required to really understand history, which is why I gave him that position.

Can I seriously point out just how depressing Die is? Ignore the music, just sing the lyrics to yourself slowly. It fits with the mood I was going with.

Before I go, here's a little surprise for you all.

Morgana's POV

I slam into the cell's wall. I refuse let out a groan though, denying him the pleasure of just how much he's hurt me.

"Cry, you little girl! I want to hear you scream!" He kicks me in the chest, and I cough out blood.

"Give... up."

"Why you brat!... I'm impressed. Most people would have broken by now, but don't get your hopes up. It'll make that moment you give in all the sweeter."

As he goes to strike me again, another voice calls out. "Shade! Stop messing around. There is some people who wish to see you."

He turns to walk away, but not before leaving once last twisted remark. "Hope you enjoyed your birthday present."

I crawl to the corner and try to fall asleep, where the pain will disappear for a while.

Shade's POV

"Who is asking for me that I couldn't continue my conversation with the girl, Adam?"

"Lovely conversation there. Real touching. Before you meet them, know this: they will not put up with your bullshit. If you displease them, they will not hesitate to kill you. You couldn't hope to beat one of them, much less all five. They are all at a strength comparable to my former teacher."

He opens a door and we walk in, before Adam kneels down on one leg. "I have brought the person you requested."

Adam Taurus, bowing to someone? Just who are these people? Before I can voice my thoughts, one of them speaks. "This is the Shadow of the White Fang? He couldn't possibly be all that impressive."

I draw my sword. "Say that again. I dare you. But first, tell me the name of the person I'm putting a blade through."

One of them chuckles. "Neo, please disarm him before he hurts himself." Another of the five shatters into glass before smashing me in the back, sending me to the floor. She stops to pick up my weapon before walking back to her original position.

The original speaker talks again. "Well, Shadow. You have a long way to go. Don't worry. When we're done, no mere Hunter could possibly dare stand in your way."

I manage to grunt out, "Who... Are... You?"

"I am Cinder Fall. We are team CRMSN. And you are our latest project..."