Chapter 1
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"We should be going Home, its getting cold.", said Yang with concern written all over her face.
It was a cool autumn day, Yang and Weiss were just going for their regular walk in the park with Zwei, the sun was setting and the cool nightly air was engulfing them both. Weiss threw Zwei's ball as far as she could, albeit not as far as she used to, the little dog did what it did best, chase after it.
"Off he goes!" exclaimed Weiss.
The doggie rushed through the fallen leaves, scattering them everywhere, and for one last time they were airborne again, before settling on the ground, finding their place to rest on.
"Don't over exhaust yourself." said Yang, "You need to save your energy and rest."
"Yeah, yeah" She had been listening to the same things for months now and was getting sick of it.
Weiss looked into the sunset, no longer paying attention to Zwei or Yang. The blue sky was getting darker and darker, the sun was painting everything orange, red and yellow. It reminded her of her childhood. The long days in the boreal lands of Atlas, it reminded her of the time spent looking after her little brother in the family mansion, of how her mother always called her to come to diner as the sun was setting, sadly these peaceful days are all but a deceptive memory. In reality her childhood was anything but peaceful, its almost too painful to remember how her father obsessed over the company and ignored his family, how her mother fell into alcoholism, how little Weiss was forced to grow up, no playing with the poor kids, no toys at the dinner table, always trying to do her best but her best was never good enough. How silly all these "adults" look now.
"Bark, bark" Zwei was demanding Weiss's attention, but she paid no heed.
Yang quickly kicked the little red ball with all her might, it sure gave the little puppy something to do. Yang looked upward, for a moment they were silent.
"Beautiful isn't it?"
Yang looked away, almost avoiding to look at Weiss, all of her physical strength did not matter, it was of no use now. Weiss's weak body, she was thin, thinner than usual. Almost looked unnatural. In spite of it though, in spite of her fear, Yang was there, she did not run away, it would be a lie to say that she did not think about it.
"Yeah, its nice."
Weiss slowly turned towards Yang, wrapped her arms around her and hugged her, burying her face in Yang's blonde hair. She cherished her smell, the way her strong arms held her, the way she touched her.
"I love you" whispered Weiss.
Silence.
"Its time to go home... lets not get anybody worried".
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Chapter 2
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~three months later~
It was almost time for winter break. It was snowing outside, the Christmas markets were full, everyone in a rush to buy somebody a present. Kids were making snowmen and playing outside, happy to not have to do any more school work. Overlooking all of this was Weiss, siting by her desk, doing some useless looking homework. Six weeks have passed science the good news, the sickness was gone. Still doing anything on her own was hard, she lost a lot of weight due to the treatment, nevertheless she felt some sort of hope for the future. Maybe some day she'll really be able to call herself a Huntress, maybe the friends and loved ones she found will not so quickly be taken away from her, it would have simply been unfair.
Suddenly a knock on the door shattered the silence in her room.
"Weiss, are you home", a familiar voice inquired.
It was Ruby, Yang's little sister, Weiss was not sure how she felt about her. Ruby was rather unaware, not mature enough, not having felt the horror that Weiss called her reality, still it's always nice for someone to come and visit, no matter how pointless or stupid their conversations may feel, there was pleasure to be found in them.
"One sec" answered Weiss.
Slowly getting herself to the walker, she made her way to the door and opened it. Although in remission, she still was weak, the sickness had left its marks on her, for now at least.
"Weiiiiiiissss" yelled Ruby as she leaped to hug her.
"Nice to see you Ruby, please come in."
"How are you Weiss, I haven't seen you in a couple of weeks"
The energetic tone of her voice brought everything in the small apartment to life, the empty space now filled with the ringing of a her warm voice.
"I've also brought you cookies by the way"
"Thanks Ruby, I'll make some tea and we'll have a little tea party!"
Ruby placed her cookies at the small coffee table and then sat on the couch. Her red dress contrasted everything around her, as if she did not belong the that environment, like an alien of sorts.
"Sooo Weiss, do you and Yang have any plans for the holidays? I heard the-.. Weiss? Are you okay?"
In the meantime Weiss, slouched over the kitchen countertop, stood motionless. Looking at her palm, it was red. What she just caught up was... red. "I just bit my tongue , yes I, my throat must be sore, It could not possibly be...". Then the ringing in hear ears became louder and louder, and everything went dark.
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Chapter 3
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~three months later~
White light. That's all Weiss could see when she woke up. Laying in bed for what seemed like an eternity, day in, day out. The white walls of the room she was in, the strange smell of a hospital. It was all so repetitive. Adjusting her bed a little allowed her to be able to see through the window to the right. The outside. How close and how far away it was, how she longed to be able to smell the filthy air outside, to feel the rain, to go to the store, to take Zwei for a walk with... . All of this was gone now, she could force 20 steps, maybe 25 if she really had to. Her once beautiful white hair was gone now, her body, reduced to skin and bones, cut up and dissected like a frog, it was almost as if the dead were walking the earth. The worst of it all was the pain, constant pain, not even a moment for herself, all was stolen but for some sick reason she was still alive. What was once something beautiful, loved and loving, dreaming for the future, living and filled with potential, was now but a shallow form of its former self. It took some time for Weiss to realize that Ruby and Blake were in the room with her.
"Oh... hello.." quietly said Weiss, what difference do they make after all.
Blake mustered the courage to answer.
"Hi Weiss, how are you today?"
Weiss just looked at her for a little bit. "How am I huh", maybe she would have been angry, but even that felt pointless. It all felt like a sick joke, a sick joke her life has turned into.
"I'm fine... How are you guys?"
"Sooo, we decided to buy you something" said Blake as Ruby silently passed her a nice paper bag "...here his name is Teddy", and Blake handed her a small teddy bear, it was dark brown all over, with the exception of its belly which was a lighter shade of brown. It was holding a bright read heart, and it had a melancholic sad look on its face.
"I wonder what will happen to you once I'm gone", a brief though in Wiess's mind.
This toy filled her with sadness, it was so nice of them to bring her a gift, but it was so hard for her to show them the love she felt they deserve. A faint, weak smile formed on Weiss's lips.
"Thanks Blake, I love him..."
Blake smiled back with visible relief.
"So how is life in the academy?" asked Weiss.
"You know", began Blake.
"Nothing new under the sun, sometimes there is the occasional mission, but its mostly homework, me and Ruby have to make a presentation on Grim scatter tactics, right Ruby?"
Blake was glad to shift the topic, although her attempts at brightening the mood were futile she was trying.
"Umm.. Yeah, scatter tactics, I've been hard at work" There was discomfort in her tone.
"I also have been very busy" continued Ruby.
"Me and uncle Crow have been searching for... Yang."
Weiss briefly closed her eyes, as if a shock of pain ran through her, then quickly looked at Ruby again, with the same tired expression on her face, with those big eyebags weighing her down.
"Did you find anything?" Asked Weiss with a flat tone in her voice.
"No, I'm- I'm sorry." Ruby was barely holding back her tears, she never imagined that Yang might just disappear one day. Still, it did not feel right to cry here, not in front of Weiss. Ruby looked away.
"... I understand, don't worry Ruby, you are not to blame... I'm sorry guys, I think I need some rest, I'm feeling sick again, I need some sleep."
"Of course Weiss, we'll come tomorrow again, do you need anything, do you want us to buy anything?" Asked Blake.
"N-no, please, I just need some rest."
She did not even notice Ruby and Blake leaving the room, her eyelids felt so heavy as if gravity was stronger, her consciousness was drifting away into a dark lake, it was quiet and the bed felt so warm, never has sleep felt so good, so needed. She felt like she was shrinking and shrinking, becoming smaller and smaller, like a little baby disappearing in the blankets. There was a single thing though, something was bothering her, "Yang..." and a tear slid down her cheek. A deep exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale and one last exhale again. Her face relaxed, lost its frown, her thin lips softened, slowly fading into darkness, now here, in the next moment... gone. The nurse found her no more than an hour later, closed up like a nightly flower, never to bloom again. Her fair complexion still possessing a royal purity, now forever past eternity's gate.
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Chapter 4
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~Many years later~
Yang was buying groceries as she did every Thursday afternoon for a while now. Life had become less intense. In her once golden hair one could find whiteness here and there, her once scarlet eyes had a certain calmness to them. Time judges all equally after all. As she was strolling down one of the alleys she suddenly caught the glimpse of a familiar figure. Standing tall, walking graciously, long white hair, flowing onto her shoulders and dripping downward, fair skin, pale as snow. Yang froze. She immediately ran towards the corner where she saw the mysterious figure make a turn. No one was there.
"W-weiss..." murmured Yang
She did not even know if she survived. Running away, leaving everything and everyone behind, it was too much back then, now only the bitter tase of regret lingered on. Had it been too long? Christ, would she even recognize Ruby, she must be all grown up. Now Yang had a family, a job, people that loved her. All the smiles in the world could not make her forgive herself for what she did, when her presence was needed the most she was not there, not there for someone she loved and loved her back. Was it too late to ask for forgiveness? She had asked herself that question many times, maybe today it would be different.
Not ten minutes later Yang was outside the store. Her aviator glasses, looking into the distant sunset. Pulling out a cigarette, she lit it up. Taking a puff she looked upward and exhaled.
"Maybe it's time."
And she pulled out her phone, with hear sweating palms she slowly dialed the phone number she remembered. Several excruciating seconds passed.
"Yes, who is it?" A familiar voice answered, with the same childish ring to it.