Sorry for the gap between uploads. For obvious reasons, the story has gotten significantly harder to write. Nevertheless, here is chapter 18.

Enjoy!

Blake had no idea how long she ran. Down the hall, out the door, along the road. Anything to put as much distance as possible between Yang and herself.

How could she...? Did I really...? Why...

Her mind wasn't cooperating, choosing rather to send her deeper into confusion and pain. Thoughts whizzed around like bees, but without the order, creating a chaotic mess of emotion inside an already broken heart. One thing was for certain however, she couldn't stay at Beacon, not after what had happened, not after the love of her life had cruelly pushed her away. Luckily, she knew where she could hide.

The sun was setting over Vale as she sprinted through the darkening streets, retracing her steps from a few days ago. Within a few minutes, she had found the dark alley with the rusty old door, and forced her way inside.

Her heart was in turmoil as she began to slowly ascend the decrepit staircase. What was she supposed to do now? She knew that there was no way she couldn't return to Beacon, not with Yang there. She 'd probably prefer it if I never came back anyway...

Ruby would take her Yang's side, she was her sister, and they were as close as two people could be, and with Weiss and Ruby's new...relationship, there was a good bet that she would side with them as well. There was no longer a place for her at the school, it wasn't like she could simply join another team. She sensation of being unwanted was all too familiar to Blake...even after all this time, nothing had changed.

Blake kicked the door to Qrow's apartment open as salt stung her eyes once more. Damn it! She collapsed on the dusty sofa, head in her hands as the tears streamed liberally between her fingers. She knew this was at least partially her own fault, if not completely her own fault. Should have fucking told her...why was I so stupid. After all those times I refused to let her in, you'd think I'd have learned from my mistakes. But I didn't, and now I'm paying the price.

She stood up and made her way into the kitchen, searching through cupboards at random until she found what she was looking for. It figures Qrow would have this lying around. It's probably pretty old too. She had found an unopened bottle of Patch whiskey, and began rummaging around for a glass.

Blake was no stranger to alcohol. The White Fang hadn't provided the most...civil of upbringings, so she knew her way around a bottle. Right now, all she needed was to forget, at least for a while, and she let the tears flow as she slammed her first drink.

Yang woke painfully from a restless sleep, head pounding and eyes stinging. Nightmares had plagued her fitful slumber, relentless in their mockery as one after the other featured the previous night's events, in varying levels of vividity. All shared one common trait: Blake was gone, always. No matter how warped or misconstrued the images may have been, the fact remained that the Faunus was out of Yang's reach, and out of her life.

Yang punched her mattress as tears soaked the pillow, cursing her own stupidity.

Great fucking work you stupid bitch...you chased her away...and she might not come back to you this time...can't say you blame her, can you?

The voice inside her head seemed to laugh at her pain, taking pleasure in fuelling the flames of frustration and anger. But as the fire spread, poisonous thoughts began to worm their way in through the cracks in her damaged psyche.

This is her fault. She shut you out over and over, she lied about trusting you. She met with him again.

Maybe she didn't love you after all...maybe she was just using you...

For what?

For protection from the White Fang of course. A strong warrior by her side to chase away the ghosts of her past.

And you fell for it...

"Sis?"

Yang hadn't heard her sister enter the room, and was in no mood to talk to her at the moment.

"Get out." Her voice was harsh, maybe a little too harsh, but it perfectly emulated the thoughts racing around in her mind.

"No. You're talking to me, right now." Ruby's voice was almost stern as she approached Yang's bunk, smirking humorlessly at how quickly their roles had been reversed. Suddenly, she noticed something. Someone who was missing. "Wait, where's Blake?"

She jumped as a violent shudder wracked the blonde's body, placing a comforting hand on Yang's shoulder. The brawler lifted her head slightly, and Ruby could see the tear-streaked face. What the hell happened between them?

"She's gone." Her voice didn't hold the emptiness it had when she had injured Blake – what now seemed like so long ago. This time, it was filled with anger, frustration, and most of all, pain.

"What? Why?" Oh that's just painfully ironic.

Yang sniffed and jumped to the floor, collapsing onto Weiss's bed as she began brokenly retelling the events of the night before, bursting back into tears as she finished and pulling Ruby into a hug, crying into her shoulder.

Oh wow, that's actually pretty bad, she basically accused her of cheating. But I know that's not true, Blake would never..."Yang, you know that this will only get better if you find her, and bring her back. She loves you and would never do anything to hurt you, and I know you still love her." Ruby tried in vain to comfort her sister.

Yang's fists clenched. "No! Not this time! This time, she chose him!" And with that, she stalked out the door and slammed it shut, leaving her sister alone and confused.

Once outside, she immediately sunk to the ground against a wall. Damn it Blake. Even if you lied to me...I'd rather have you by my side than see you go back to him.

Where are you?

Sunlight filtered through bent Venetian blinds, dancing across Blake's face and bringing her slowly out of her stupor. It felt like her brain had been beaten with a whisk, set to ferment for eight weeks and then left out in the sun too long. Ugh, shit. Maybe I went a bit overboard. Her eyes found the now half-empty bottle, and she groaned as she slowly sat up, the shift in brain fluid playing hell with her senses.

She sighed and rubbed her eyes. The pain and grief from the day before had gone, but had been replaced by an incredible emptiness that knawed at her insides. It was as if all feeling had been sucked from her being, and in some ways, it was worse than the pain.

She ran a hand through raven hair. What the fuck am I supposed to do now? Beacon was the last home that I had, and I doubt that I could stay here for very long.

Her thoughts strayed to the night that caused all of this, the night that Adam had found her, and unknowingly ruined her life. Well, it wasn't so much his fault as it was mine. The more she thought about Adam, the more she began to accept her one remaining option.

Maybe...they were my family once, could they be again? Would he accept me? If he truly has changed...I could return to his side I suppose.

It's the only place I have left now...

Blake smirked humorlessly at the irony. It seemed that the life she had tried so hard to escape, the one she had condemned and claimed to detest, was the one life she had left.

She stood up slowly, wobbling slightly as she tried to find her balance. It shouldn't be hard to find them, I just hope there are no giant, murderous robots this time.

Though with Torchwick rotting in some jail cell, it didn't seem likely this time around.

Sun Wukong sat lounging in a tree, about to eat an apple that he had recently...acquired from Sage. Man, he makes it too easy, just leavin' his food lying around. Anyone could have taken it. At least it's in the hands of someone he knows.

On second thought, that might just make it worse...oh well, too late now.

His mind flashed back to Blake's look of disapproval when he had first stolen for her. Yang's been a good influence on her. She only glares at me occasionally now.

He took a bite from the apple, only to spit it out in disgust. Rotten. Sage was notorious for using study and meditation as an excuse to neglect things like general cleanliness and hygiene.

His mind returned to Blake as he tossed the apple to the ground. I wonder where she's gotten too, haven't seen her in a while. Probably off with Yang somewhere, engaging in "couple" activities.

In that moment, it seemed that the apple he had just discarded was hell-bent on returning the favor as it smacked into the side of his head, and he almost fell out of the tree in shock. He scanned around to find the culprit, expecting to see Sage glaring up at him, but was surprised when his eyes were met with a certain blonde-haired brawler, evidently the one responsible for his citrus-y surprise.

His annoyance abated at the look on her face. Has she been crying?

"Hey Yang, what's up?" He had never seen her this upset about something, and quickly realized that Blake was nowhere to be seen.

"Sun." Her voice was strained and desperate. "I need you to do something for me. Please."

The monkey-Faunus's brow furrowed in concern. "Sure, anything."

Good guy Sun. What did you guys think?

Also, 100 reviews? You guys are awesome! 3