Disclaimer: RWBY is not owned by me. It is owned by Rooster Teeth. This fan-fiction is not for profit.

Warnings: This fiction will be rated T for bad language, fantasy violence, and dark themes.

Requiem for Remnant

Chapter 26: Reunion

Blake leaned against Bumblebee and crossed her arms pensively. She was waiting in a darkened alleyway behind a shady nightspot called The Cub's Club. Leaking bags of garbage were thrown haphazardly in a pile, adding to the repulsive stink of city sewage and urine. The constant assault on her sensitive nose soured the faunus' mood even more than it already was.

Yang had gone inside through a back door, carrying the mask of Grimm and that baseball bat with her. She said that the items belonged to the club owner, an equally shady man named Hei "Junior" Xiong. Apparently he was the one supporting Yang's fight against gangs. Frowning, Blake considered marching in there and giving this Junior a piece of her mind.

But instead seeking immediate satisfaction, the brooding brunette lowered her bow topped crown and thought back to Yang's confession.

"You found your mother?", Blake's eyes widened. She could scarcely believe her ears, all four of them. The past few days, the faunus has been trying to figure out what was causing Yang to act out. But nothing could have prepared her for the answer.

"When did this happen? Where did you meet her? Who is she? Did you two talk?" Questions tumbled out of her mouth one after the other.

Yang wiped at the corner of her eyes with the heel of her palms. They were puffy and red, but she had ceased crying. For a moment, she remained silent. Her breathing gradually steadied and her sniffles quieted. With a soft grunt, she sat up and crossed her legs in front of her.

Both girls were sitting on a gravel rooftop. Across the street was an apartment building engulfed in flames, as though some infernal beast had been unleashed within. The crackle and snap of a roaring fire, courtesy of Yang, filled the air. Smoke from the inferno rose up and blotted out half of the moonlit sky.

Watery amethysts met with curious citrine. When she spoke, her voice wobbled only slightly. "I first saw her on the train."

If Blake hadn't already been on the ground, then that revelation would have put her there. "What?" she exclaimed in disbelief. "How could you keep this from us?"

"I didn't know she was my mom. I've only ever seen old photos of her." Yang reached beside her and picked up the mask of Grimm. She held the ominous visage in her hands. "Plus, on the train, she was wearing a mask just like this one."

Blake stared at the mask. There was something about it that seemed frightfully familiar. A dreadful sensation stirred in the back of her mind; like the lingering memory of a long-forgotten nightmare. She inquired cautiously, "What exactly happened?"

Grimacing, "I may not have been completely honest with you guys on how bad my fight with Neo went."

Yang averted her face away. "See, Neo was planning on killing me as I was laying on the floor. I couldn't move or open my eyes. But then my mother appeared and she drove that ice-cream bitch away. When I could finally wake up, I managed to catch a glimpse of her just before she disappeared."

"You nearly lost your life." Blake's voice sounded hollow to her ears. She couldn't even begin to comprehend what would have happened. Even attempting to imagine the outcome caused her heart to cave in.

Still facing away, "That's why I didn't say anything. I didn't want to scare Ruby. If she knew how close I came to dying, then she'd use her authority to keep me from going on any dangerous missions."

"Maybe you shouldn't be going on dangerous missions!" Blake argued, her voice rising. She slammed her fist on the rooftop and ranted, "It was reckless of you to try and fight Neo by yourself! Your callous disregard for your own safety nearly got you killed!"

Yang turned to stare Blake straight in the eyes. "I'm her older sister. It's my job to keep her safe, not the other way around."

Rising to her feet, the dragoness towered over her partner. "She needs me to be a pillar of strength. If Ruby loses her faith in me, then what good am I to her?"

Meeting the hard gaze, "You're no good to her dead."

"What's done is done." Yang stated firmly. "I didn't die, so just drop it."

Their eyes battled momentarily. Then Blake made a frustrated noise with her throat. She ground the heel of her palm against her forehead and sighed, "Alright, fine. But would it kill you to try and show some regard for your own safety? It's like you're always biting off more than you can chew."

Yang flashed her a quick grin, "You don't need to worry about me. I've got a pretty big mouth, ya know?" Upon seeing the feline's deepening frown, she hastily threw her hands up in surrender. "But—but—but you're right, I should learn to take smaller bites."

Blake nodded her head. Then she questioned, "Your mother was on the train? I didn't see any masked women after the wreck. How could she have escaped the Grimm infested tunnels?"

"Uh… actually, she teleported off the train before it broke into Vale."

The badgering feeling in the back of Blake's mind grew stronger. Her eyes locked on the mask in Yang's hands. Then she carefully observed the black and crimson garb that the blonde bruiser was dressed in. Puzzle pieces were dropping into place, one by one. A mental image was beginning to form. Her stomach sank as though it were filled with concrete.

"Teleported?" she asked.

"Yeah," Yang confirmed, "her Semblance is to make big red and black portals."

Realization struck Blake like a megaton meteorite. The world reeled in wide circles before her eyes. She felt lightheaded. Her mouth became as dry as a desert. Breaths came in short supply.

"Yang?" she began dizzily, "Who exactly is your mother?"

"Her name is Raven Branwen." Yang scratched her cheek, "But I guess she's most commonly known as the Grimm Reaper."

Silence.

"Blake?"

More silence.

"Have you heard of her?"

Back in the present, Blake slapped both hands over her mouth and screamed both externally and internally. High pitched distressed noises leaked from behind her palms. She mentally cried out in disbelief, "How in the hell did I manage to become partners with the daughter of the most terrifying individual on the whole godforsaken planet?!"

In short, the answer was yes. Blake has most certainly heard of the Grimm Reaper.

Even before Adam's takeover and subsequent fall into corruption, the White Fang had ties to the criminal underworld. They would work with local gangs, as well as pay information brokers, in order to learn the locations of faunus populated plantations. Then the White Fang would send operatives out on missions with the intent on gathering evidence against ethically challenged corporations.

Blake remembered being tasked with taking photographs of the poor working conditions that the faunus slaves were subjected to. She had various memories of trespassing onto corporate owned property with bolt cutters in her hands and a camera slung around her neck. It was dangerous work. Often there were armed guards and canines patrolling these facilities. She could recall times where she ended up running away at full speed, being chased by baying hounds, speciesist slurs, and gunfire. Over the years, the young feline honed her stealth capabilities out of necessity.

Growing up surrounded by criminals and felons, it was impossible to avoid the subject of the Reaper. Accounts were whispered like campfire stories. Tales of an unstoppable inhuman entity who could stride through bullet storms without slowing, who could slay thousands in a single night, who could appear anywhere and anytime without any warning. The stories only became more extravagant as they were repeated. The Reaper was the criminal equivalent to the Boogeyman.

The first time Blake saw captured footage of the Grimm Reaper in action, the sight was burned into her eyes. Butchered bodies, dismembered limbs, eviscerated corpses, and the blood. So much blood. In the midst of it all, a pitch black shape with a white face was swinging a sanguine-soaked sword. Unholy crimson orbs glared from beyond the screen. Hatred burned like coals in an inferno. They promised pain and death to everyone in their sight. Those eyes stared into Blake's very soul. The young girl screamed in terror.

A White Fang member by the name of Tukson quickly stopped the video and escorted her to bed. While being tucked in, she asked Tukson if the Reaper would come for her. The puma faunus reassured her that the Reaper only hunted killers and other monsters. He said that the Reaper has never taken the life of a child.

She asked him if the Reaper was a good guy. Tukson had no answer for her.

The young cat faunus was plagued with nightmares for weeks.

In contrast, it seemed as though Adam Taurus admired the Grimm Reaper. The young boy was impressed by the effect she had on the criminal community. Look Blake, he would say, grown humans quaking in fear of her. They're too afraid to even speak her name! Adam picked up a stick and swung it like a sword. Imagine what it would be like to be feared as she is. Just the sight of that mask is enough to make humans run away. The smile on his face made Blake uneasy.

Shaking her head, Blake cleared away childhood memories.

Yang had not yet returned from The Cub's Club. A quick glance at her scroll revealed that time was running short. Curfew was coming. It would be a close call even if they rode Bumblebee back to Beacon Academy.

Blake thought back to Yang's disclosure. After revealing her heritage, Yang went on to describe meeting Raven two more times.

"You must think I'm crazy." Yang moaned hopelessly, clawing her fingers through her hair.

"Meeting your mother in a dreamland?" Blake tried to keep the skepticism out of her voice. "That's a pretty tall tale."

"I know, I know!" She pulled at blonde strands in frustration. "But you've gotta believe me! I'm not lying and I'm not crazy!"

Silence stretched between them.

Amber eyes regarded the distressed Huntress.

After a while, she spoke slowly, "There are numerous fairy tales and mythological stories where people meet one another in dreams. Maybe they have a basis in fact…?" Her voice trailed off at the end.

Snapping her fingers rapidly, Yang enthusiastically emphasized, "Yeah! Yeah! I read Ruby bedtime stories where heroes would dream about their loved ones before they even met them! Then they met in the real world and it was like they had always known each other. Maybe something like that can really happen?"

"Alright, alright. So your story isn't that crazy because we live in a crazy world. And I suppose this explains why you kept activating your Semblance in your sleep too." Blake pondered aloud.

Yang's head bobbed up and down. "Yeah, I'm so on edge whenever I'm around Raven. I've never been this bad before, at least not since…" her voice trailed off. She stared off in the distance.

Blake reached for the Grimm mask and took it from Yang's hands. She held it carefully, as though it were a container with a toxic substance inside. "So, your plan was to fight bad guys while dressed as the Grimm Reaper, in order to get Raven's attention? You're luring her to you?"

"It's not a pretty plan," Yang admitted grimly, "but it's the only one I have. I have to talk to Raven." Amethysts locked hard with amber, filled with resolve. "And I'm willing to do anything to make it happen." She squeezed her fists until they shook. "I need to talk to her"

Blake observed Yang, who was becoming visibly distraught.

When she spoke, her tone was understanding. "I have never known my parents. I don't even know whether they are dead or alive. Either they died and left me an orphan…" the brunette paused and stared vacantly off in the distance, "...or they simply left me. I prefer to believe the former to the latter. If I were to meet them, still alive and well, I would likely be very upset just like you are." Her eyes returned to Yang. "But I would still try and get to know them."

The blonde remained quiet.

"What I'm trying to say is," Blake struggled to find the words, "that I understand why you're doing this." She held up the mask and peered through the eyeholes. "You want to find Raven again, and—and maybe try to understand her better. But…" she fidgeted anxiously with the mask, "...but I think that what you're doing is a bad idea. It seems pretty clear why Raven left you as a baby. She has already told you that she's a dangerous person. She feels as though it would be unsafe for you to be around her."

Yang's golden crown dropped low. Rich locks fell over her shoulders.

"And maybe…" the feline faunus grimaced, "Maybe she's right? Raven sounds like she's very unstable, and she's aware of it. It might not be a good idea to keep hunting her, if she's so unhinged that she can't even trust herself. It may not be worth the danger, going after the Grimm Reaper."

A brittle voice murmured, "You're wrong."

Yang raised her head. Tears trembled in amethyst eyes. "That's not why I'm trying to find Raven. I haven't told you the whole story."

Wordlessly, Blake maintained her gaze at her partner.

"I haven't told you about the last part…"

Pain etched sharp lines into her face.

"Raven accidentally said something…"

Each torturous word was like a barbed wire being dragged out of her throat.

"…she said…"

Her face fell into her hands.

"…that she cost Summer her life…"

Blake froze as understanding crashed upon her like an ice cold tidal wave. She sucked in a deep lungful of air. It all became perfectly clear now, exactly why Yang had gone so far and ran herself ragged in her hunt for Raven.

"Oh my god…" she breathed.

BANG!

Gambol Shroud was already in Blake's hands before she realized that the sound she heard was a door being slammed shut. She saw Yang emerging from the nightclub, wearing her normal brown leather biker outfit. Ember Celica were back on her wrists. A motorcycle helmet was tucked beneath her arm.

Her boots dragged on the pavement as she approached Blake and Bumblebee. Eyes low and shoulders drooped, the brawler appeared worn and weary. She regarded Blake with tired eyes. Then she extended the helmet toward the faunus.

"Wear it." She mumbled.

Her words were so run down that it sounded like one word, "Wear't."

Blake took the helmet and set it over her crown. Unfortunately, it crushed her feline ears against her skull. While she adjusted the helmet's strap beneath her chin, Yang snapped yellow goggles over her eyes.

No words were exchanged as they mounted Bumblebee. Blake straddled the seat behind Yang and wrapped her arms around the blonde's bare stomach. She rested her head against the soft golden mane that flowed down Yang's back. Usually, Yang was pleasantly warm to the touch. But now the natural heat she emitted was missing. It was as if her fiery spirit had been extinguished. The dragoness had never felt so cold before.

The yellow and black motorcycle roared to life and launched toward the street. Blake tightened her grip around Yang.

As the city of Vale swept by, her mind traveled back to the discussion on the rooftop.

It had taken some time for Yang to calm down after her shocking revelation. She was resting in a sitting fetal position, knees drawn to her chest and arms wrapped tightly around her shins. The blonde's spine was curved sharp enough to hurt. Her eyes were pressed against her legs, golden hair draped lifelessly over her thighs.

Yang looked so small and vulnerable. She was a dragon forged from hardened steel. The pressure and heat was what made her strong. But now that she was cooled, her spirit was left stiff and brittle. At this point in the tempering process, she was at her most fragile.

Blake could do nothing but comb her fingers through her partner's long hair.

"How hard must it have been for Yang to carry all this pain alone? To have her entire world torn upside down, and yet still keep it all to herself."

Prolonged contact seemed to have an effect. Yang stirred. Then she lifted her head and rested her chin on her knees. Red-rimmed amethysts gazed emptily at the shattered Moon.

Blake tentatively broke the heavy atmosphere, "What do you plan to ask Raven, should you see her again?"

Yang's hands balled into fists. Her voice was low and harsh. "I'm going to demand answers, about what happened, about how Summer died."

"What if… Raven is somehow responsible for…"

Lilac bled into deep red. Yang started to breath heavier and heavier.

"If Raven was the one who killed Summer…"

She squeezed her fists so tight they began to tremble.

"If Raven is the reason why we grew up without a mom…"

Embers traced down golden strands. Blake quickly withdrew her hand from the growing flames.

"If Raven is the reason why Ruby visits a gravestone every year…"

Her entire body shook with unrelenting anger. She seethed through gritted teeth.

"Then there's nothing between us. It means that the Grimm Reaper murdered both of my mothers."

Wisps of steam rose from misty eyes.

"And I will never forgive her."

Nighttime wind lashed at Blake's face, bringing her out of her reverie. She hadn't even been paying attention for the duration of the ride. Her natural feline balance allowed her to easily follow Yang's movements as she guided her motorcycle through traffic. Bumblebee rumbled loudly while the two Huntresses sped through the streets of Vale.

It came as no surprise that Yang was driving like a bat out of hell. She threaded between cars without a second thought, blew through red lights, and swerved around sharp turns at blinding speeds. Every minute was another car horn blare and explicative swear. If there was ever a chance that she could get in a collision, her only response was to speed up. On more than one occasion, the reckless blonde rode on the sidewalk just to get through an intersection faster.

Blake wordlessly apologized to all the pedestrians who had to dive out of the way.

On an ordinary night, Yang would hoot and holler while riding like a daredevil. She would cuss and swear loudly at law-abiding citizens in protest of their responsible driving. "Get off the road!" Yang would shout at motorists matching the speed limit. It was as though she were competing with her own motorcycle on who could make the most noise.

On top of that, Yang was usually looking in every direction except forward. She would repeatedly turn her head and start chatting to the person on her back seat, even while her passenger pleaded with her to watch the road. Other times Yang would start browsing the Internet on her scroll. It was an absolutely nail-biting experience, watching the carefree blonde as she looked up pictures of cute animals while riding through a busy intersection.

However, tonight was different compared to all the others. Yang was completely mute throughout the entire trip. She uttered not a word. Her eyes remained glued to the road, not even sparing a backward glance at her passenger. Blake almost wished that Yang would begin swearing.

With nothing to distract her from intrusive thoughts, she once again returned to the near past.

"Ruby can't know anything about this."

The pair of Huntresses were walking together down the street, taking a long detour toward the alleyway where Bumblebee was stashed away. Firetruck sirens gradually became quieter as they put distance between themselves and the inferno that Yang had started. An inky black column of smoke, painted in the colors of wildfire, was still visible rising over city roofs. The smoldering stench still clung to Yang's black and red garb, causing Blake's nose to wrinkle.

Every building they passed was in various stages of dilapidation and disrepair. Black iron bars over doors and boarded up windows discouraged possible intruders. The pavement was cracked and uneven. Litter scattered across the concrete and clogged the gutters. A neon sign cast an eerie light over the line of cars parked along the street. No other souls strode the streets.

Yang's tone of voice left no room for negotiation. Blake would try nonetheless.

"Why not?"

"Because this would tear her apart," the blonde said firmly, "and I don't want to see that happen again."

"Don't you think that Ruby deserves to know about this? It is her mother after all." Blake argued.

"Yes, and that's exactly my point!" She insisted.

A moment passed in silent consideration. Then Blake's eyes narrowed sharply, "Does Ruby know that you two are half-sisters?"

"What? No!" Yang blurted. Then she quickly backtracked, "I mean—I mean—yes! Ruby knows that we aren't fully blooded sisters." Amethysts averted. "I… kinda told her a long time ago."

"What do you mean by 'kinda', Yang? Did you or didn't you tell her?"

Shaking her head, Yang seemed to be struggling with herself. She rolled her shoulders and sucked in a sharp breath. Hands flexing anxiously, she finally exclaimed, "Yes! I told Ruby that we were half-sisters! I'm just not proud of the way I did it, alright?!"

Sensing a continuation to that sentence, the faunus remained silent and let her speak.

"Right after Summer died, I turned into an unholy terror." Eyes downcast, Yang dragged her feet, "I was so miserable and angry all the time, and I lashed out at everyone. I was always getting into fights at school and running away from home. All I wanted was to find my mother."

Self-loathing strained her words. "Ruby didn't get it, why I kept saying that I needed to find my mom. So I told her, I said it straight to her face. We aren't real sisters!" Yang stomped her boots, adding a fresh crevice on the sidewalk. "That's what I said, that we weren't real sisters. I told her that her mommy was dead and that mine was still alive. I yelled that we weren't family and…" she stopped and ground her teeth together, "…I told her that Summer never loved me."

Before Blake could react, Yang was already yelling, "I know that's not true! I know that Summer loved me as much as she did Ruby. But back then, I felt betrayed. Then I went and betrayed Ruby by telling her that, right to her face. I was upset and Ruby got upset and then Dad and Qrow both got really upset with me and everything about that time is just really hard to talk about! Okay?!"

Yang curled her hands into tight fists. She squeezed until her knuckles bleached. When she opened her hand, there were white half-crescent indents in her palms from her nails. They faded slowly.

"I was a godawful sister to Ruby. I still remember how horrible I felt when she started crying. It's like a stain that I'll never fully clean off."

"If it's any consolation," Blake interjected, "that was over a decade ago and I'm pretty sure that Ruby doesn't hold it against you. I have never seen two sisters who love each other more dearly than you two. You might have said some regrettable things in the past, but the only one who remembers them is you."

"Thanks Blake." the blonde nodded with the ghost of a smile in appreciation before she resumed, "But that doesn't change my position. Ruby can't know anything about what's happening. Everything about that time is a horrid memory, and I don't want to drag that out for her."

Speaking earnestly, "Yang, I hate to break it to you, but Ruby isn't a little girl any longer."

"She still leaves cookie crumbs in her bed!"

Blake's eyes rolled, "And you talk with your mouth full. You're not exactly the patron saint of maturity either, so you're in no position to judge her. She's grown a lot, even in the time that I've known her. It's not right keeping this a secret from her!"

"I'm not planning on keeping this a secret from her forever." Yang crossed her muscular arms. "I need to know what happened to Summer first. I have to be able to give her answers before I open up old wounds. If I tell Ruby now, then she'll be left with tons of new questions with no new answers. That wouldn't be right either. It would tear her apart, just like it did to me!"

They trudged along, listening to the sirens in the distance for a few minutes. Finally, curiosity compelled Blake to ask questions. Broaching the subject as delicately as she could, "Um… what answers do you have? What do you know about Summer and… her death?"

An explosive sigh erupted from Yang. When she answered, her words were sour, "Not fucking much. Nobody knows what happened to Summer on her final mission, or what the mission was even about. All we were told was that Summer was KIA, and that was it."

Blake inquired, "Who told you that? Was it the people who gave Summer her last mission?"

"The Atlesian military, and yes." The dragoness spat brusquely.

Amber eyes widened slightly. "Summer's mission was for Atlas? Did they never disclose any details?"

"Nope." Yang bitterly snapped. "Apparently they don't have to declassify top secret missions until after twenty-five years have passed. We've gotten sweet fuck all from the Atlesian military. No mission details, no location, and no autopsy report. We've got no answers, not a single one even after a decade."

Blake placed her hand on Yang's shoulder. "I can't imagine how hard it must have been, to try and move on without any closure."

"Yeah, it was hard for all of us."

Yang bowed her head.

"But it was hardest for Ruby. She wanted answers more than anyone. It hurt so much, watching her wander around the house aimlessly, bundled up in her red riding hood. I could hear her talking to herself, trying to figure it out in her head. Trying to figure out what could have possibly done it. What could have possibly killed her mommy."

Her expression crumbled as she fought back tears.

"She kept telling herself different stories, but hardly any of them had happy endings. Every time she made up a story that ended with Summer coming home, Ruby would sit down by the front door as if expecting her to walk through once again. She was so young and hopeful, she thought that Summer would come back home if only she prayed h—hard enough."

She choked back a wretched sob.

Squeezing Yang's shoulder, Blake tried to say the first comforting platitude that came to mind. But her throat was closed tight.

With a start, Blake emerged from her memories. Yang steered her motorcycle into a multi-tiered parking garage, one specifically reserved for students of Beacon Academy. She was forced to slow down because of speed bumps staggered apart. The air was rich with the pungent stench of motor oil and dust fuel. Bright fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting equidistant pools of light. The rumble of Bumblebee's engine echoed off the gray concrete walls.

After leaving Bumblebee in the parking garage, Blake and Yang entered a lift that would take them up to Beacon Academy. They swiped both of their student ID's and the lift began to hover on anti-gravity propulsion. The elevator ride was as smooth as silk as it climbed higher and higher. Blake quickly checked the time, then sighed in relief. Less than ten minutes later and they would have missed curfew. So long as they were on school grounds, they would be safe from being disqualified from the Vytal Festival.

The lift hummed gently beneath their feet as it ferried them over the Baum River that flowed from Beacon through Vale. Blake didn't dare to look down at the cold black water far below, instead she kept her eyes straight ahead at the approaching academy. Beacon's three-spired central tower cast an eerie green cone of light that swept over the campus. It was a strangely calming sight.

Yang leaned against the railing and stared out at the city. Urban lights reflected in those empty eyes. Her back was turned to Blake. A sullen silence settled over their shoulders, suffocating conversation in its cradle. They were both completely worn out. Mentally, physically, and emotionally drained. A deep-set fatigue weighed heavy their bones.

When they stepped off the lift, neither of them said a word.

When they walked side-by-side over the cobblestone path, neither of them said a word.

When they entered Beacon Academy's front gate, neither of them said a word.

When they traversed the long halls, neither of them said a word.

It wasn't until they arrived at the dormitories that Yang finally spoke for the first time since departing The Cub's Club.

"I'm not stopping."

Blake gave her partner an aside glance as they traveled through the student sleeping quarters. The hall lights were dimmed and the soft crimson carpet cushioned their footsteps.

"I still need to find Raven. She's the only one who knows the truth about Summer. She's the only one with the answers Ruby needs to find real closure. So, I'm not going to give up searching for her."

They rounded the last corner before Blake responded. "We are not going to give up. You need to get it through your thick head that you're not alone in this any longer." She strode alongside her partner in sync, "You have friends and family who will support you whenever you need it. It's not weakness to ask for help. It takes a special kind of strength to acknowledge when it's too much to bear by yourself."

Her amber eyes seemed to glow in the low-light. "I'm not asking you to stop. I'm asking you to slow down. As my best friend once said, we're going to find the answers we're looking for. But if we destroy ourselves in the process, then what good are we?"

Yang paused for a second. She shook her golden crown ruefully and punched Blake in the arm. She chuckled, "You are such a smartass."

The door to Team RWBY's dorm came into view.

"What am I supposed to do now?" Yang asked quietly.

Blake provided, "I think the first thing you should do is talk to Ruby about all of this."

"I already told you." There was an edge to her voice. "I can't open up old wounds without being able to close them again. I need to find Raven first!"

"I know you're just trying to do what you think is best for your little sister, I get it." The faunus argued. "But what's best for Ruby isn't shutting her out entirely. Your downward spiral has caused her so much stress. She's afraid that she's losing the most important person in her life. Ruby would rather suffer with you, rather than watch you suffer without her."

She insisted urgently.

"Tell Ruby what's going on. Let her share in your burden. At least you two would be together again. That would be best outcome for the both of you."

Blake could see the gears working in Yang's mind. There was no battle, no trading back and forth of eye colors. But it was still evident that she was weighing her options. Finally, she rubbed her temples in tight circles and groaned.

"I can't do this right now!" She strode past Blake and stood in front of the dorm room. "Right now I'm so exhausted that I can't even think straight. All I want to do is crawl in bed and pass the fuck out."

Yang grasped the door handle and swung it inward. Blake followed her inside.

And was immediately met with Ruby and Weiss, who were standing in the middle of the room in their sleepwear. The heiress held a scroll in her hand. She pointed at the time on the device and spoke crossly, "You two just made it before curfew. What were you doing?"

The blonde and the brunette shared a guilty expression.

Scoffing, Weiss shook her head. "Never mind. It doesn't matter." She stabbed her finger at her feet. "What does matter is settling this whole catastrophe here and now. Yang, you need to listen to what Ruby has to say."

Then she stepped aside and let Ruby approach her big sister.

Silver met amethyst. The petite girl began to speak softly.

"Yang, I know that something is tearing you up inside. I'm really worried that you're going to go overboard. Could you just tell me what's going on, like you've always done?"

She sounded so lost and helpless.

"Please, just talk to me. We've never kept anything a secret from each other before. We used to share everything, from hopes and dreams to germs and viruses. We've always, always, talked to each other about everything. You...you're the most important person in my life."

Silver eyes fell to the floor. "Right now though, it's like you're pulling away and...and I don't want that to happen!"

Ruby reached for Yang's hand and grabbed it.

"I—I know that we're not going to be together forever. Once we graduate, we're probably going to do our own things. You've said that you want to go beyond the borders and see what's going on out there. You want to visit exotic places, meet weird people, and then fight them." She giggled lightly. "I don't think that's what I want to do. I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet. But either way, we're probably going to separate in four years."

She squeezed tightly.

"But I don't want to lose you yet! I'm not ready to say goodbye already!" Sterling silver tears welled in her great big eyes. Her voice cracked. "I know that I'm a… a clingy little brat, you've told me a thousand times. But I don't care! I want you to keep being my big sister, because there's nobody else I'd rather have than you!"

The tears that had collected in her eyes began falling freely.

"Can we please go back to the way things were? That's all I want."

Yang squeezed her eyes shut as a tidal wave of guilt crashed upon her. Her heart plunged as she comprehended the consequences of shutting her little sister out. In all of her efforts to keep Ruby safe from pain, she had brought Ruby's greatest fear to life.

After Summer's death, Taiyang took his daughters to see child psychiatrists. Little Ruby refused to see any therapists alone, and would only speak if Yang was there with her. They would share a couch and talk about their feelings together. After observing her behavior, a shrink diagnosed Ruby with S.A.D.

Separation Anxiety Disorder.

While Ruby has certainly improved over the decade, there was still that barb hooked in her psyche. The disorder manifested itself in a loss of confidence whenever Yang wasn't around, or a tendency to second guess all of her decisions. She stumbled over her words and became insecure. Ruby found it difficult to function at her fullest without the support of her big sister.

The blonde grabbed Ruby's narrow shoulders and pulled her into a tight hug.

"It's alright Ruby," she whispered while rubbing Ruby's cherry-tipped hair, "I promise that I'll be your big sister forever. Nothing will break us apart again."

She glanced at Blake, who nodded her head tersely.

"And tomorrow, after I've gotten a good night's sleep, I'll tell you guys about everything that's been going on. It was wrong of me to try and carry this burden alone." she rocked side-to-side, still holding Ruby in her arms, "I was being selfish and not thinking about how it was hurting the people around me. I'm sorry that I put you through so much pain because of my stubbornness. I did you wrong, and I'm going to make it up to you."

Ruby rested her head on Yang's shoulder. "I'm just glad you're back. I missed you a lot."

Blake smiled as she watched the two sisters reunite. Weiss muttered under her breath, "Well, it's about time."

After they separated, Yang promptly took a change of clothes in the bathroom. Soon the sound of a water running could be heard and lavender-scented steam billowed out from the crack beneath the door.

Team RWB sat on the floor in a triangle. Ruby smiled at Blake as she dabbed at her eyes, drying up the remainder of her tears, "You brought Yang home. Thanks for keeping your promise."

Blake stretched her limbs and groaned, "It wasn't easy. Your sister is as stubborn as a goat and twice as hardheaded. I had to resort to an ultimatum to bring her around."

Weiss tilted her snowcapped crown curiously, "What were the terms of this ultimatum?"

"Uh…" Suddenly Blake didn't want to talk about how she almost abandoned the team. "…That's not important."

Yang emerged from the shower wearing a loose yellow tank top and formfitting black spats. Water droplets glistened in her golden hair like deep-sea pearls. She waved once at the girls on the floor before depositing herself onto the bottom bunk bed. The sound of snoring rose almost immediately from beneath the covers.

"That's the wrong bed, dummy!" Ruby exclaimed.

Blake reassured, "I don't mind this one night. She's pretty tired from everything."

"What was Yang doing when you found her?" Weiss inquired, "She wasn't fighting street gangs again, was she?"

"Well…"

Pinching the bridge of her nose, "Please, please, don't tell me that Yang had anything to do with the fire that broke out in the downtown residential zone."

"…Uh…" Blake scratched the back of her head.

"The one that police say was fueled by an unlawful ammunition stash?"

Blake coughed into her fist, looking anywhere in the room except the heiress.

Weiss rubbed circles into her temples, "Yang's got a lot of explaining to do tomorrow. Setting things on fire is not a healthy outlet for her frustrations."

Then her cerulean eyes widened in surprise. Gasping in outrage, she thrust a finger at Blake's bed.

"I don't believe this! Yang setting things on fire, even in her sleep!"

Blake and Ruby whirled around. Sure enough, dark tendrils of smoke were snaking out from beneath the covers. Golden flames rolled down Yang's sun-kissed strands, burning black holes in the sheets and pillows. A pained expression was plastered on the dragoness' face. Her eyes were shut tight and her lips pulled back, baring clenched teeth. She curled her hands into shaking fists.

Ruby leaped to her feet. "Yang's having another sleeping Semblance accident? That's the third one! What's causing this?"

The blood drained from Blake's face as realization dawned upon her.

"Oh no…" she whispered.

Yang Xiao Long stood in an all-too-familiar setting, Beacon Academy's main avenue. The shattered face of the Moon hung heavy above Beacon's central tower, casting an eerie pale light upon the cobblestone path. The deep dark blue sky was barren of stars.

A gust swept through her blonde hair, causing it to unfurl like a banner. The wind was howling in unbridled rage, reflecting the growing storm in the young Huntress' heart. Scarlet leaves rustled in the breeze, whispering words of warning.

Before her loomed the Hero's Monument. With eyes as red as blood, Yang glared at the stone statues. But it was not sculptures that were the subject of her fury.

It was the woman standing upon them.

Raven Branwen stood on top of the memorial, arms crossed in front of her chest. She stared down at Yang without her mask. An expression of barely suppressed rage was set upon her face.

Crimson eyes locked with crimson.

She growled with a stone-cold tone of voice.

"You have no idea what kind of trouble you are in."

End Chapter 26: Reunion

Who's ready for a nice, calm discussion between two rational, level-headed women?