"Sooner or later we've all got to let go of our past."

― Dan Brown, Deception Point

IMPORTANT NOTE AT THE BOTTOM!

Chapter 8-

The next day they surfed during the day but as day started to turn into night instead of all going back to their homes for dinner they remained on the beach.

They wandered down further from the town until they reached almost the other end of the beach where a hole had been dug out in the sand and filled with wood.

"Tides going to be out for quite a while we'll be fine. Want to invite your parents down? All are welcome." Ruby said, so Neo sent an invite to her parents for the bonfire.

Slowly as the daylight faded others arrive, all of Ruby's, and now Neo's friends arrived with Yang even bringing a box cooler.

They all gathered around, drinking happily but slowly. Summer arrived with an older looking Winter on her arm who was introduced as Mizu, Weiss' and Winter's mother. Winter also came as well alongside Neo's parents and the guys running the surf shop.

They started the bonfire as all the daylight faded and the fire lit everyone up in its light. All the people gathered happily gathered around and chatted with each other, Neo found herself holding conversations with most people easily and mixing well with them

As the night seemed to reach its climax, with everyone having eaten from the food brought over they all gathered around the bonfire and Ruby stepped forward to speak.

"So it's been a year. A year since Weiss left us and well, look at where we all are now? Bunch of drunks around a bonfire on a beach." Ruby joked with everyone, causing some laughs from the gathered people.

"But seriously we should cut back a little on the drinks." Ruby said with a smile, "I don't really know what to say other than this week has been one of the best in my life, for a few reasons. Meeting this cute girl is one of them." Ruby said, hugging Neo into her side, earning a few whistles from Yang and Coco.

"Anyway, it's been a year and well we've shown that we'll still live our lives and carry on. Which I think is what Weiss would have wanted the most." Ruby said, looking towards Mizu and Winter, who were both smiling gently at her.

"Yeah can you imagine what she'd think if we all sat around crying all year?" Yang laughed out, causing others to laugh as they thought of what Weiss would be saying to them, or rather shouting at them.

"Who could forget? 'What are you all doing? You should be out there enjoying yourselves you bloody idiots.' Coco said, doing an impression of Weiss that caused everyone to laugh.

"So seeing as this is the last time we'll all be together for a while; I have some big news." Ruby said, looking at Neo and seeing her nod in reply, "Neo and I are dating, we both like each other and well she speaks to me in ways Weiss didn't. So I hope you all welcome her." Ruby said but then teased, "So keep your eyes to yourself Yang." She teased, earning a few laughs from everyone.

"Next is somewhat bigger, depending who you ask." Ruby said. "I'm getting back into competitions, I'm going to start training again but well, over the last year I've been going big wave surfing with Qrow and the old man ratted me out it seems." Ruby said.

"Ratted you out?" She heard Velvet ask, confused at what she meant.

"Yeah he did. He got someone to watch me surfing and now, I've been invited to compete in the Titans of the Mavericks event." Ruby said, and hearing the shocked silence before resounding applause and congratulations at getting into the biggest event for surfers, although they knew the risks they happily supported Ruby's decision.

"The old man ratted me out to Tukson himself who apparently pleaded my case, for whatever reason." Ruby said to them all.

"It's because you're a great surfer." A man's voice said from behind Ruby.

Turning around Ruby came face to face with Tukson himself, in a brown jumper and white shirt, with shorts on and cut hair but noticeable side burns.

"Wait. You're here?" Ruby asked, stunned.

"I was in the area and Winter said you accepted the invite so I came to see you." The man said, holding his hand out to Ruby.

Ruby took the offered hand as they grabbed each other's wrists and got in close. "You're a great surfer, and I'm glad that you're coming. I'll see you out there on the surf." He said almost proudly before leaning in to her ear, "I'll be rooting for you." He said and with that he took his leave.

Making Ruby turn to look at Winter accusingly but couldn't hold it for long as she felt a weird rush at meeting one of her hero's and seeing that she had his support.

The rest of the night was spent enjoying conversation and with Ruby talking about competitions but saying that she didn't have much planned yet except for the Mavericks event.

When they eventually broke apart, the tide coming in and putting out the bonfire for them they all went separate ways with promises to keep in touch.

Ruby and Neo went back to the flat where they spent the rest of the night in each other's arms, kissing and making up for the time they would be apart when Neo returned home.

But with all good things they had to come to an end and that morning Ruby waved Neo off with her family as they drove off to the airport.

"You know, you should go after her and see her off completely." Mizu said from next to Ruby, watching as the car left the town.

"How come you're here?" Ruby asked, wondering why she came over to Ruby.

"Seeing your mother, but I saw you here. I'm sure you can catch up, show her how much she means to your one last time." Mizu said, walking away from Ruby.

With that idea in her mind Ruby got her bike and drove barely legal speeds to reach the airport before Neo carried on through security and where Ruby couldn't reach her.

She managed to surprised Neo as she wasn't paying attention but Ruby grabbed her from behind whispering, "Hey there. Busy?" Ruby whispered.

"Ruby!" Neo all but screamed out, turning and kissing Ruby instantly. "Why are you here?" She asked.

"I wanted to see you off." Ruby said, kissing Neo again.

They stayed like that until Neo's parents, smiles wide on their faces as they took in the scene but they needed to go through to the gate.

"Call me when you're home, ok? I'll keep Skype up so I can see you." Ruby said, kissing Neo one last time.

"I'll see you soon, ok?" Ruby said.

"Of course." Neo replied smiling wide, taking one last kiss she followed her parents through security and into the airport itself.

For the next few months Ruby divided her time between training with her uncle and talking with Neo. Quite often going into the small hours of the morning to keep talking with Neo.

Neo herself had moved on to university studying psychology of all things and would also be balancing up both speaking with Ruby and her work.

Then one day she came home from uni to discover a letter addressed to herself in handwriting she didn't completely recognise.

Opening up the letter she discovered a single ticket inside for a flight to San Francisco and a handwritten letter.

'Hey Neo, its Ruby.

Waves are all looking good for November and it seems it'll be happening. I hope I didn't presume too much but I sent a ticket to San Fran for you, I'd love for you to join me there, for your support and well. I miss you, like miss you a lot even if we talk every day.

My mother and her girlfriend, weird saying that about Mizu. But they'll be there with my uncle and our friends. I really hope you can make it but I understand if you can't. I better go, Qrow's waving at me. I hope to see you soon. I love you.'

Neo held the letter against her chest, overjoyed at the letter and blushing at the same time about Ruby saying she loved her, even if it was in a letter.

She looked at the ticket again and speaking to her parents found that she'd be able to go by them but she'd have to take some of her work with her so she didn't miss out on anything.

Ruby was overjoyed at discovering she was coming to the event and Ruby told Neo all about the area as she had been with her mother before.

After what felt like years Neo arrived in the cold winter at the airport, getting her bag and passing through everything she came out in the arrivals area and kept her eyes peeled in order to find Ruby.

It wasn't hard as Ruby dyed her hair a dark red, she said to make her stand out in the water but she wasn't sure.

Running over to Ruby's arms, she was spun around as their lips met in a deep kiss. They spent give minutes just standing there kissing each other before they left the airport.

Ruby had to hire out a car as she couldn't carry Neo's stuff on her bike so they had a rather simple truck that belonged to her uncle.

Getting to the hotel where Ruby would be staying at that evening she was introduced to Qrow who said, "Ah so you're the person keeping my niece up all night long." He said rather loudly in the restaurant getting Neo to blush while Ruby laughed it off.

The next day was a day to relax while after that the first round started. Twenty-four of the best big wave surfers had all been invited to compete and they were all out there getting ready.

Neo didn't know any of the names that Ruby pointed out to her about the others nor did Neo really care as her focus was Ruby.

The bay itself had a small beach where only a few people actually watched along instead favouring the very high cliff where they could see a lot of the action. Cameras were everywhere recording or streaming the event with commentators.

There was a small fleet of boats in the water and Neo got her first glimpse of the massive waves. Some even reaching sixty-foot-high, which only served to make Neo more worried but she stayed to support Ruby no matter what.

"There's a spot on a boat for two people I want. I want you to be on there. It's the one I'll be launching off of and going back to, would you?" Ruby asked.

"Of course." Neo replied, understanding she could have anyone but she wanted her. She would later discover that Qrow was the other person on the boat with her, though he took a back seat it seemed.

The first few days were spent getting a feel for the waves and the area in general and after that time the competition began.

It lasted a week, all throughout the twenty-four surfers being widdled down. Ruby survived all throughout making it to the finals with one other surfer.

However, the week wasn't without injury, at least three of the surfers suffered broken limbs, be it leg or arm. Though one was particularly bad.

Ruby was out at the time while Neo watched from the boat when the call came in over the radio, "Surfer down. Moving to recover now, I see the board." The call came through from one of the lifeguards on a jet ski.

Neo felt her heart drop at the news, there was no confirmation on who it was that fell into the water so Neo searched for the familiar red hair and board to tell her that it was Ruby.

Luckily she saw her just going over the top of a wave, waving towards Neo making her heart stop beating so fast in concern.

At the end of the session, which Ruby advanced through to the next round, upon returning to the boat she spoke with Neo asking her, "If you want me to stop, I will. There's been a quite a few injuries." Ruby said.

"No, carry on. I was worried there for a minute because all I heard was someone was down, not who." Neo said.

"I know; I saw who went down. Some guy, they managed to get him out as he popped his head up." Ruby explained.

The next few days were rather peaceful as no more accidents happened, when Ruby got through to the final Neo felt extremely proud and they had a single day's break in between the semi's and finals meaning the day was spent with each other, just relaxing.

That evening Neo, with Ruby's family of Summer, Mizu, Winter and Qrow all went out for dinner together where they wished her good luck and said about how well she'd been doing.

The next day was like any other day, except this time only two surfers were going out. Ruby and another person, called Cardin were heading out.

Though this day the sea seemed rather rough that there were some questions that they'd be allowed out but both Ruby and Cardin wanted to go out so they agreed.

They had an hour to get the best wave they could and attain a high enough score in order to win but it was a struggle to catch any sort of wave as the sea was becoming too violent.

Ruby watched as Cardin swam back to his boat his intent clear as she climbed aboard shaking his head. Ruby, not one to give up and not wanting to give up so easily carried on, seeing her chance at a wave that was building she started to paddle and immediately jump up onto her board.

Catching the wave, she was riding it along into shore when she spotted it breaking, but not where she thought it was so she was caught up in the energy of the wave tipping forward sending her to the ocean below.

Neo, standing on the boat was watching but her view was constantly being blocked so one of the people on the boat linked her in to the commentators so she could hear what they were saying, so with one headphone in she listened to what was going on.

"Looks like Cardin's heading in, I don't blame him. It's rather vicious out there today. Wait. Is that Ruby Rose? Right there." The commentator said to his partner, clearly pointing it out.

"That is. She's heading for that wave. She's got it. All she's got to do is ride that long enough and she's won." The second one stated.

"Wait. See that wave…it's breaking right on top of her." He shouted out and then as the wave broke on top of Ruby shouted out, "She's gone down…I can't. Hold on that's her board." He shouted but Neo wasn't listening anymore.

Neo waved as the wave broke on top of Ruby, she saw that red hair for a second before it vanished in the white form of the wave.

A few seconds later Neo saw Ruby's board burst out from behind the wave but no Ruby attached to it or anywhere in sight. She barely heard the shouts behind her screaming for the jet skis to find out where she had gone as they began searching for her.

As Ruby fell down through the ocean she closed her eyes, the wave going over the top of her as she was just out of range of the current underneath.

Ruby felt herself get peace as her mind could only think one thing, I'll see you soon Weiss was all she could think of as she fell down.

A/N

Not actually too much I can think of saying about this one, yeah weird place to leave it but it'll make sense. Maybe, don't know.

The main reason I've got this out is because I want to ask you lot about Dead Fantasy. I've been re-watching it and other then the fact it is amazing I need some help.

I've got a rough plan of a story at the moment, and by rough I mean notes on my phone rough. But I need some important details.

Names, I don't actually know if the characters have any actual names or not, if they do there's a couple I'd love to know. The woman with the two pistols, the black themed brawler/hand to hand fighter and the red haired one who has the key, then sword, then penny lookalike swords, and lastly the purple themed one with the double bladed purple sword. If they have actual names I'll love those, if not then I'll be making my own up.

Oh yeah, I don't know anything about this event except for the fact that this area is actually one of the deadliest places to surf, I would not advise surfing here unless you're trained enough.

Anyway thank you for reading and for the help, until next time.