Chapter Two: It is in Passing We Reach Immortality

"Yang! Breakfast!"

Yang could smell the food before dad shouted the words. "Coming!"

She descended the wooden stairs, the third from the bottom creaked like always, before making her way into the kitchen. Finally, she had a face to the voice she heard the night prior. Yang didn't know what to expect, but a petite girl somehow scarfed down food at the same speed Ruby devoured cookies, but with the elegance Ruby would never achieve.

The prestige girl put her fork down and addressed her. "You must be Yang."

"Uh, yeah." Yang dragged a chair back so there was enough space to take a seat.

"My name is Artoria. My apologies for the intrusion. I'll be taking my leave shortly."

Taiyang placed more food on the table. "Well your welcome to come back anytime. It's good to socialize and take breaks." The teachers of Signal Academy were helping out with patrols. He had seen first hand how exhausted people were getting. He couldn't say he didn't feel it himself.

It was Dad being Dad but Yang wanted to roll her eyes at how accommodating he was being. He wasn't as peppy as Ruby but he did his best to keep a spring in his step as he took everything in stride. At times like this she wondered if things would be different if Summer was here.

Artoria adjusted her position to squarely face her. An undercurrent of determination burned in her eyes. Yang hated it. Hated the formality. Hated the rigidness. Hated the determination. "I am aware this may be inconsiderate, but if I may—"

Last night's conversation popped into Yang's mind. She was already irritable, but hearing any kind of lecture, especially from a stranger, would send her over the edge. "Are you going to tell me to get over it too? You don't even know me!" She could see Dad's unabashed glower from her peripheral. He wasn't impressed with her, but that had been a common theme lately.

"I intended nothing of the sort. Such words from me would be canting." Artoria's stoney expression had a minor crack. The fire in her eyes died out into a subtle frosty shift.

Yang thought she would feel a sense of victory of distinguishing the fire, but she only felt shame. The thought of putting others down to her level wasn't the same when it was reality, especially when that wasn't the reason Artoria addressed her. Yang had jumped in and made assumptions again without much thought. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that." Yang took a silent deep breath through her nose. She needed to learn to calm down. "What were you going to say?"

"You went to Beacon Academy." Yang began to burn. Maybe she didn't need to calm down. One intrusive question and— "Was Pyrrha happy?"

That blindsided Yang. Artoria's words were spoken in a not so dissimilar tone when she needed to be serious about Ruby. Yang tried to process the question while a light rambling left her mouth. "Pyrrha? Were you her sister or something?" Pyrrha was internationally known and was one of the last people broadcasted before the fall. It would make more sense to be a fan or something, and yet the more Yang looked at Artoria the more she questioned whether or not she was off base. Pyrrha was tall and Artoria was on the short side, but the formality, the way she held herself, the eyes, and some of her expressions were all reminiscent of Pyrrha.

Did Pyrrha even have a sister? She couldn't remember her talking about her family. Actually, no one from Team JNPR really talked about her family. Scratch that. Not just Team JNPR. Blake didn't either and Weiss had only alluded to her dad, or father as she put it, and sister a few times, and most of what she knew from Winter came from her visiting the Vytal festival and Ruby mentioning Uncle Qrow fought her.

"Sister, no. Parent, yes."

Yang was happy to not have taken her sip of water yet. Not that she wanted to talk to a dead friend's sister, but she didn't want to imagine what it felt like for a parent to lose their child.

She thought of Raven. A mother who didn't care.

"I think so?" Yang answered unsure of her own words suddenly very aware that she could have died rather than lose an arm. "She was the top of our sparring class. Friendly." Even if sometimes she felt arm's length away. Getting Pyrrha to talk casually about herself was as bad as trying to get Blake to open up. She almost wanted to consider Pyrrha more closed off, but she obviously spent less time with her than her teammate.

"Ruby and I taught her how to play a few games. Her team broke out into a group dance at the school dance. I refuse to accept they didn't practice it beforehand." She started to realize how little she knew about Pyrrha, and well everyone. She didn't think when someone died you were supposed to only highlight the trivial things. How would she feel if someone reduced her to a thrill seeker or the strong one? "Er, we had an awesome food fight!" Artoria seem offended at that one. Maybe Pyrrha learned to let loose from her Dad. Too bad because she could still practically feel the impact of the baguette she threw. "Sometimes she skipped studying to read comics, but she always did her best and gave plenty of support to her team." Yang began to dwindle off.

Artoria stood. "I understand. Thank you for answering." Artoria nodded to Taiyang. "Thank you again. I'll be taking my leave." She turned back to Yang. "I hope you find the answer you're searching for."

Artoria walked off. Taiyang followed to give his goodbye.

'I hope you find the answer you're searching for.' What was that supposed to mean?

Yang groaned. She should have stayed in bed.

Her stomach growled.

She would eat and then go back to laying in bed.

Shirou knelt before two unnamed grave markers. Their bodies weren't buried there but it was about the sentiment. It was the one place he allowed himself to contemplate the past.

"Are you sure this isn't why she left you? People don't generally like their husband thinking about other women."

Shirou's eye twitched.

He turned to look at the old man. "Coal." Shirou paused before continuing. "Technically, we were never married."

Coal knew as much. It was half joking and half serious. He just wasn't great at greetings, and said the first thing that came to mind. What was he supposed to say to someone he took in while he honoured those long gone. Gone before he ever met him. Coal can still remembering the authorities asking for Shirou's details after helping out. No identification. No nothing. Coal stepped in to help. He had lost his own son in a failed development project. Taking in a grown man had mostly been to fill the void, but with time they more or less became family for real.

Taking in may be a bit much. He was independent, capable, and always running off. The bond he built with Shirou had been over years. Even now it was like a friend coming in and out of his life.

"I'm joking. I'm joking." Or so he said. Coal didn't think Shirou noticed, but his good natured-ness and talent earned him plenty of attention. Luckily for other bachelors, Shirou's interactions were minimum and he often seemed oblivious to it all. Coal went down on his old knees next to Shirou. He clapped his hands together. "Thank you for bringing him to me."

Shirou's irritation vanished, replaced by a tender appreciation. The man had sharp words and a bravado but was an emotionally fragile thing.

"What were their names again?"

"You're losing your memory in your old age."

"You're just jealous I still age." Coal remembered the names, but if he didn't ask then Shirou wouldn't talk openly about them. Better for Shirou to think he was going senile than for him to bottle more up. He did that enough already. If it wasn't for the fact his appearance never changed, he likely wouldn't have believed the outlandish stories. Who would believe in another world? That sounded like some bottom grade novel material.

"I'm jealous that I'm not an old bag of bones? Omph!" Coal elbowed Shirou in the stomach.

He was old. He wasn't fragile.

"This old bag of bones is still kicking."

"I get it. I get it." He raised his hands in defeat. "This one is for Rin Tohsaka." He smiled. "Hot headed and would drag me around. You remember the story I told you that I once left the…kingdom… without telling her only for her to track me down and help take care of things sooner before dragging me back and lecturing me about the deal we made."

"I remember you telling me she had you on a leash, but you would never admit it." The old man gave a slow, low laughter as he placed the name with stories he had been told over the years. "And the other?"

"The girl lost in the desert. Hakuno Kishinami but she preferred Hakunon."

"Wasn't she the one who—"

Shirou hummed in agreement. It may have been easier to talk about it now but that didn't mean Shirou liked talking about it.

Coal narrowed his eyes. "I was going to say the one who would enthusiastically, yet recklessly, jump into things 'for the experience'. Outlandishly so."

Shirou was sheepish as the memories came forward. If Rin was the force to ensure he took breaks, cared for himself, and enjoyed life, then Hakunon was the force that matched his stubbornness of never giving up. She did support and share his life goals of helping people but she also frequently wandered off the path to indulge and made frequent dessert requests when they were away from the cities. The unquestionable support was a surprise change of pace even if it sometimes felt like she was looking at someone else.

Artoria once made a similar comment of how he looked at her, but he disagreed.

"How about you come over, and I'll cook you a nice meal before you run off again?" Coal was sending the hook to reel him in. Too many times he's stopped through without a simple hello.

"Only if Noire cooks. We both know you would burn water if possible." Shirou stood and walked in the direction of the Nikos home.

"Well everyone can't be a fancy chef." He muttered but he stood up beaming, elated that Shirou would stay, if only for a bit.

Little bugger would run off again, so he needed to take the opportunity while he could.

Coal looked back at the graves one last time. For all the luck he had gaining attention from women, he had zero luck retaining them.

Honestly, he didn't know whether to idolize or pity the bastard.

Shirou stopped in his tracks to look back at Coal who was a few steps behind. "Before I forget, you should be safe from Atlas despite their extreme measures. The footage didn't tell the whole story. Maybe a chatter bug like you could spread the word around?" Shirou had mix feelings on Atlas technology. It was good if people could be put out of harms way, but there were still plenty of limitations of what that technology could do. It was all a little too fast for his liking.

He remembered the Penny girl from the broadcast. How could he not when Pyrrha had been fighting against her? His first concern was Pyrrha's reactions. She looked devastated. In the long-term, the moment weighed more on his mind. If Atlas's technological 'next step' was making sentient-like androids then how was that much different then sending humans in. He hoped he was wrong, but he didn't like it. He may have misplaced some of his agitation off on Winter a while back.

"You—" Coal gapped. "Never mind. It's you. Of course you know what's going on."

"You give me too much credit. There's still a lot not adding up." The grimm were quieting down but they were still more rampant than pre-Fall of Beacon. Dealing with immediate threats hadn't given him much time for investigation.

"Tell me more about it at dinner. For now, catch me up with what you've been doing."

"We should have a Super-Secret Slumber Party!"

"Nora?"

"Yes Ren?"

"We already share a room."

"Duh. It's a Super-Secret Slumber Party. No one will ever know."

"Well I think it sounds grand." Pyrrha smiled. She agreed with Ren. They were already sharing a room so by semantics it wouldn't be anything new, not to mention that the fact they were teammates which would naturally bring them closer together—hopefully. She never had a sleepover. She had never been inviting to one so she was quite eager to follow through on Nora's suggestion.

"Ohhh! Sleepovers are the best. Well camping is and that that might as well be a sleepover with my family." Jaune's eyes scanned his teammates warily before sighing. "Just no pigtails."

Nora snickered as Pyrrha and Ren looked to each other confused. "That's adorable," Nora drew out each syllable which riled Jaune.

"It wasn't my choice! It was my sisters'!"

"You have sisters?" Pyrrha wanted to know more about her leader. It wasn't by accident that they had been paired. It was deliberate. She had wanted to be partners. It was refreshing to talk to someone who had no expectations of her. Someone who would talk to her like any other person. Besides, she was curious as to what growing up with a sibling was like.

"Uh. Yeah. Seven." Ren's eyes widened, and Nora coughed on her soda. She pounder her chest with her first in attempt to clear her airways.

"Seven!" Nora sounded appalled.

"That is a lot," added Ren.

"That sounds lovely," Pyrrha chimed in. It did sound nice to be surrounded by a large family, even if the thought of someone having eight children was intimidating.

Jaune didn't take her words sincerely as he muttered under his breath. She couldn't quite hear the individual words. "What about you guys? Brothers? Sisters?"

"That would be a giant nope from me. Ren's got none either."

"Me neither," added Pyrrha.

"So let me get this straight. You all grew up as the only child. Not one."

"Just admit it Jaune. You're the odd one here. Besides, Ren and I are orphans. Didn't have much of a chance to have one." Nora was unfazed by her words that he almost thought she was kidding, but that was just how she spoke most of the time.

Pyrrha tensed up a little. Being orphans must be lonely, but she also felt for Jaune a little bit who became tongue-tied. A memory shot to the forefront of her mind. It wasn't clear, and she never understood it in full which was likely the reason it was pushed to the depths of her mind. It wasn't something she would normally bring up, but she thought this was a bonding opportunity, and she wanted friends.

"Well, I technically have a sibling."

"Puh-lease." Nora dismissed her as Pyrrha had just told them she didn't have any.

"I think she means to question that you just said otherwise." Ren clarified.

Pyrrha twiddled her thumbs. "I've never met her. I only know from my dad mentioning it once. A half-sister that my mom had before me."

"Like Yang and Ruby?" asked Jaune, tilting his head in wonderment.

"I suppose but I don't even know their name or where they are. Mom never brought it up so neither did I."

Ren and Nora looked to each other.

Jaune placed a hand on Pyrrha's shoulder in comfort. She smiled.

"You know what this calls for," asked Nora with a grin. Her eyes a little too wild. "More soda!"

"No!" Ren shouted. It was an odd sight. He was usually composed.

Jaune shrugged. "I guess. Go for it."

"You don't understand. Nora shouldn't be given excessive su—"

Ren was cut off by a large burp. Nora had already finished another six cans.

"—gar."

Evil laughter echoed the room.

"Oh no."

Nora jumped up on the bed and grabbed a pillow. "I'm the pillow queen!" She threw the pillow that crossed the room at supersonic speed and hit Jaune in the face and sent him tumbling backwards.

Ren ran towards Nora hoping to tie her down before she could cause any real damage. Nora foresaw the attack and jumped from the spring mattress, over Ren, to another bed only to be knocked down by a pillow thrown by Pyrrha. The tall girl scratched the back of her neck sheepishly. "Sorry!"

"Oh it is so on." Nora grabbed another pillow.

War ensued. Fought until they had little energy remaining. Echoes of groans and laughter.

Activities then changed to hairdos, makeovers, and painting finger nails. Pyrrha had braided Ren's long hair before wrapping it up in a family updo. If only she had a magentad ribbon to match the coloured streak in his hair. She settled by paining his nails purple, but when she saw the ridiculousness of Jaune's painted nails she added sparkles and drew patterns over it in white.

"pfff." Nora exploded in laughter. Ren looked like a delicate little flower of a good. He could be one of those damsels from a fairytale.

Jaune joined into the laughter, enjoying the transformation his teammate had undergone. Content that someone else was at the receiving end of the torture women can bring.

Ren and Pyrrha looked at each other, blinking. Pyrrha's hand brought up to cover her mouth as laughter escaped, tears coming to her eyes.

"I would look at yourself." Ren was almost smug.

"Huh? What are you talking ab—" Ren shoved a mirror in Jaune's face. Where he got it, no one was quite sure.

"Ah!" Jaune grabbed the mirror as if it would change what he saw. There was a pigtail formed from his fringe, along with about 10 other small ones circling his head. Bold blue eye shadow too thick and his right eye smudged to his temple. Blush boldly applied in ovals down his cheeks. At last minute Nora had also coloured the space between his eyebrows. He had a unibrow!

"Oh don't be a baby. It looks fantastic." Nora acted as if Jaune was the drama queen.

Or maybe he was.

Laughter filled the room once more. While there was part of him that didn't like that he was the laughing stock—again, it was nice that it could be passed around. With him. At this moment, he felt a little more certain of his decision to leave home. To walk the path of a hero.

"Jaune."

Jaune gasped and shot up straight. His eyes wide and unfocused. When his vision cleared he saw Ruby on one foot. The other raised and her two hands in the air as if she was ambushed into a surprise attack.

"It's just me!" Her voice as loud as she could in a whisper.

"Huh?"

Ruby sighed in relief. "It's your turn to play nightguard."

"Oh right."

Ruby walked to her sleeping bag. Before laying down she turned back to face Jaune. "Are you okay? You seem startled."

"Just a dream." He ended the conversation not wanting to bring up the past.

It hurt enough as is.

Ruby looked downwards. She thought moving onward was the best thing to do. It always had been, yet she thought back to Yang and how hurt she was that it made her doubt herself a little. Maybe forcing positivity wasn't the only way forward. Not dwell in it, never dwell in it, but she thought back to Team RWBY and the benefits of having a heart-to-heart. Good could bloom from something messy. The others were mostly closed off like her, though, outside the occasional side comment. It was enough of a reminder that they don't want to talk about it.

It was like a movie playing in her mind. Penny in pieces across the stadium. An arrow in Pyrrha's chest as her engulfed body somewhat resisted the burning flames as she made her last gasping breath.

Ruby's skin prickled at the remembrance. She may only have Uncle Qrow's words to fill in what happened afterwards, but the events leading up were deeply etched into her.

She hoped her night would be filled with dreams instead of nightmares.

Ren had woken up to Ruby and Jaune's whispers. It wasn't their fault. It had been a few years since being in Anima. Leaving had given him space to breathe, but coming back brought nostalgia and not he good kind. He's been on edge. The familiarity of the regional climate, topography, and food reminded him of memories he wish would stop haunting him.

Watching Vale get destroyed by a grimm invasion and having a few close calls with the increasingly powerful grim they've come in contact with on their journey wasn't helping. He felt a twisted satisfaction every time he killed a grimm. He wasn't sitting around thinking how to dispose of them, but it was how he felt in the moments of success. No one else should have to suffer lost like he did.

And yet people continued to lose loved ones.

Team JNPR lost a friend.

They were helping some people, some communities, but there would always be more. For every person they helped, how many more needed saving?

Ren logically knew they couldn't help everyone. He chose to live by doing what he could. What was achievable rather than ideals. Any ideals he may have had about the world crumbled the day his family died. The day the construction of his village permanently ended.

That was until the rare times his emotions got the better of him, so it was best to remain calm – to remain in control of himself.

That emotional side of him envied Ruby. Finding a glimmer of light within the shadows. The ability to start formulating a plan to do something.

He had been helping out at Vale. It wasn't like he had anywhere else to go. He helped with the burials and joint ceremonies. He helped ward of grimm as citizens who hadn't fled helped with reconstruction. Even so, he'd been ready to jump at the chance to do something else. To contribute another way. To do something more meaningful than damage control. To do something proactive instead of reactive.

Making the journey with friends was an added bonus.

His need for more rest eventually overtook his racing thoughts.

Author Note: Thanks for waiting! I was fortunate to have work pay for a conference across the country, so I used my free time to explore. As such, this chapter is only half the intended length, so I'll be writing the rest in the next chapter.

Chapter Three: Where We're At
Chapter Four: Dreamers and Cynics