Chapter 5

"So I get there and Coco's already naked and waiting." Yang continued her story. She was running on Pyrrha's treadmill, getting back into the swing of training after taking some time off post-fight. "Then we…"

"Are you sure this is something you want to talk about with your sister?" Ruby cut her off.

"I'll stop if you want." Yang shrugged.

"Please." Ruby requested. "Your story's hot and all, but the fact that it stars you makes me a little uncomfortable."

"I wouldn't mind hearing about your escapades with Pyrrha." Yang said.

"It would be a waste of breath." Ruby laughed. "We can't hold a candle to you and Coco."

"That reminds me." Yang said. "This one time I showed up at her place, there were candles lighting a path to the bedroom and…"

"Yang please." Ruby groaned.

"Sorry, sorry." Yang said. "How was physical therapy?"

"Exhausting." Ruby complained. She had gone to the gym with Pyrrha in the morning then Yang had picked her up around lunchtime. "Doc is a slave driver."

"You have no idea." Yang said. "Do any tattoo work?"

"No, it seems like everybody is set." Ruby sighed. "I'd really like to though. I kind of want to reopen my shop but I know I'm not up to it yet."

"You'll get there." Yang encouraged. In truth she was not so sure. "I could probably use some new artwork. How would you feel about something in the ass region?"

"I'd rather not have to stare at your butt for that long." Ruby said with a smirk.

"Coco would." Yang said. "Hell, I would."

"I'm not sure if I should be more concerned by your hyper-sexualism or your narcissism." Ruby laughed. "If you think of something you want...not on your ass...just let me know."

"I'm sure I'll come up with something." Yang said. "Are you going to do another painting?"

"Nothing new." Ruby replied. "I might touch-up the portrait of Pyrrha I painted when we first started dating. I've gotten so much better since then, it's almost embarrassing. Maybe I should just start it over from scratch."

"You shouldn't be embarrassed by it." Yang said. "You may have gotten better since but it's still great. You should really take it out of the studio and hang it where people can see it."

"No...when I look at it all I can see are the mistakes." Ruby sighed.

"I guess that's how it is for artists." Yang shrugged. "So if you're not going back to painting, what are you going to do?"

"I don't know." Ruby said. She thought for a moment. "Maybe I should just rest. It's...been a long week."

"That's probably a good idea." Yang said. It had been a long week for her too. Still Ruby's condition wore on her. A night of passion with Coco was a temporary respite, but just a few hours later she was already filled with worry and guilt all over again. "You should do what's best for your health." Yang paused. "That reminds me, are you going to Pyrrha's fight?"

"It's in Mistral right?" Ruby asked. "I think she leaves tomorrow."

"Yeah, she's fighting at home." Yang confirmed. "It's a pretty big deal. Apparently the fans there are absolutely crazy about her."

"I probably shouldn't go." Ruby sighed. "With the way things are...getting on a plane...it probably wouldn't be a good idea."

"Don't be too sad about it." Yang said. "I'll stay here and watch with you."

"You don't have to do that for me." Ruby said. "And shouldn't you be there to help Pyrrha prepare?"

"Blake or Ren can handle it." Yang answered. "Besides, someone's got to keep an eye on you."

"I feel like a burden." Ruby complained.

"You could never be a burden." Yang assured her. "With all the support and help you've given me, not to mention the free tattoos, it's only fair that I should be here for you."

"I feel like you paid me back with the rent on the tattoo parlor and all the equipment you bought for me." Ruby said.

"Ruby, you can't put a price on love." Yang said. "Without you I never would have gotten to where I am now. You've always been there to give me the inspiration I need."

"Wow Yang I...thanks." Ruby said with a smile.

"Any time." Yang said. "I'll always be here when you need me." Yang desperately wanted to believe that was true.

Pyrrha was not going to make it home for dinner. A sponsor event related to her upcoming fight was running long. That left Ruby and Yang to take care of dinner themselves. Yang could not cook and neither could Ruby. Luckily when Yang opened the refrigerator there were a few microwave meals. That she could handle. The food was not great but it was edible enough.

"I didn't know Pyrrha even had these." Ruby said. "She's an amazing cook, and when she doesn't make stuff from scratch we go out or order stuff for delivery."

"Oh, delivery, I forgot that was an option." Yang laughed. "Oh well. This stuff isn't so bad."

"I remember now!" Ruby announced. "Jaune recommended them." Yang almost choked. "Apparently this is like all he eats. Pyrrha and I figured we'd give it a shot."

"Oh...that's…" Yang struggled.

"I'm surprised Jaune hasn't come to visit yet." Ruby sighed. "He's not even answering his phone. Maybe he's just busy but I kind of feel like he's avoiding me."

"Ruby...Jaune's dead." Yang sighed. "I keep telling you."

"No, that can't be right." Ruby said. She looked terribly confused and on the verge of tears. "I would remember something like that."

"But it is." Yang said. "When you were shot, he was shot too. Twice. Ruby, you've seen the video."

"But I…" Ruby closed her eyes, forcing tears out and down her cheeks. "No he...oh God, he is dead." Ruby started sobbing. "Why didn't I remember? How could I not remember?" Between her grief over her friend's death and her fear from the memory loss, Ruby was completely breaking down. She hunched over and covered her face with her hands. "What's wrong with me?"

Yang slid her chair beside Ruby and wrapped her sister in a tight embrace. "It'll be alright." Yang said, trying to soothe Ruby. "Everything'll be alright."

"I want to remember." Ruby cried. "I need to remember. Why is this...I…" Her speech devolved into incoherent babbling as she continued to sob.

"Come on Ruby, we'll get through this together." Yang said, rubbing her sister's back.

"I just want everything to go back to the way it was." Ruby wept.

"I know, I do too." Yang said. "You'll get there. You'll get better." Yang was not sure if she was trying to convince Ruby or herself. "Everything's going to be fine." Somewhere, deep down, Yang knew she was lying, but she was no more willing to accept the truth of Ruby's condition than Ruby was to accept the truth of Jaune's death.

Pyrrha came home very late and Yang decided she might as well stay the night. Between all that had happened and the fact the she was sleeping on the couch, she knew getting any rest would be a struggle. Pyrrha and Ruby did not have any sleep aids so Yang checked the fridge. Buried in the back was a bottle of wine. Ruby said she and Pyrrha were not really drinkers, so it had probably been a gift. Yang decided it was her best bet to fall asleep. She started with one glass but she still did not feel tired. That one glass turned into two, then eventually the whole bottle before an inebriated Yang laid down on the couch. She passed out as much as fell asleep.

"Yang, wake up." Ruby said as she shook her sister awake. Yang opened her eyes and yawned. Her head throbbed. Ruby looked annoyed. "I don't want to be late again."

Yang sat up, grabbed her phone and checked the time. "Oh, damn, sorry." She said. "I should have set an alarm."

"You did." Ruby said. "You just slept right through it. Pyrrha tried to wake you up before she left too but you just groaned, said something incoherent and went back to sleep."

"I'll be quick." Yang promised. Knowing Pyrrha might get home late she had brought a change of clothes the night before. She quickly showered and threw on the clean attire before rushing out the door with an impatient Ruby.

"Did you drink that whole bottle of wine last night?" Ruby asked as Yang drove her to the gym.

"Yeah, I didn't really feel tired and you said you didn't have any sleep medication." Yang confirmed. "I've been having some trouble sleeping."

"It's because you're worried about me...isn't it?" Ruby asked.

"What makes you say that?" Yang asked, trying to sound surprised.

"The other day I heard you talking to Pyrrha about how guilty you felt." Ruby admitted. "You said you promised mom you'd protect me. Why didn't you ever say anything?"

"I didn't want it to affect you." Yang replied. "You had enough to deal with and I didn't want to add to it."

"You've done so much for me, I think you've more than kept your promise." Ruby said. "You don't have to feel guilty. Sometimes bad things happen and we can't do anything about it."

Yang drove on silently for a bit then stopped her car in front of the gym. Ruby started to get out. "Hold on." Yang said. Ruby closed the door and turned back to her. "I know that logically I shouldn't feel guilty about what happened, but I do. I'd do anything to keep you safe, anything to make you happy. The knowledge of what happened to you because I wasn't there...it's hard. Seeing you afraid, seeing you crying, it hurts me so much. I just want you to be happy and healthy."

"I know, but...I...you shouldn't feel that way." Ruby struggled. "It's not your fault. And you need to take care of yourself too. Don't worry so much about me. If something happened to you it would hurt me just as much as what you're feeling now. I'm worried about you."

"You don't need to worry about me." Yang said with a smile. "I'll be alright. I'm always alright. It's just been a rough couple of weeks. With a little time, everything will be better." Ruby smiled back. Seeing that smile again, a genuine smile, filled her with so much joy. "Now come on, you don't want to be late...again."

After another brutal physical therapy session, Ruby showered and changed. Yang did some sparring while she was waiting for her sister, and Ruby caught the tail end of her last session. Yang was in the ring with Ren, dodging his strikes effortlessly. He went for a takedown, Yang blocked it and ended up on his back. That was it, sparring session over. In a real fight, Yang would have pounded her opponent into submission but for practice it was enough just to get into position. Ruby had watched Yang for her entire career. Much like Ruby's art, Yang's fighting prowess had grown by leaps and bounds. Now she looked unstoppable.

"That time already huh?" Yang asked as she walked from the cage. "Let me hit the shower quick and we'll be on our way."

"Hurry, I can't wait to get home." Ruby sighed. "I'm exhausted."

"There's one place I want to go first." Yang said. "It's important."

"Oh, okay." Ruby said. "Where?"

"You'll see." Yang said. She did not want to say where because she knew Ruby would not want to go.

After a quick shower and change of clothes, Yang and Ruby headed out. Yang drove much more slowly than she had in the morning. Her expression was a serious one. "We're going to the cemetery, aren't we?" Ruby asked.

"Yes." Yang answered.

"You should have just told me." Ruby said. "I don't have a problem with it. I haven't visited mom and dad in a long time."

After Ruby's mother Summer had died of cancer, her father Taiyang went into a deep depression he never really recovered from. One day when Ruby was 16, Taiyang said goodbye to his daughters and headed out. He never came back. His body was found on Summer's grave the next day. Yang and Ruby never found out the details but knew it had been suicide. In a note he had on his person Taiyang apologized and said he had held out as long as he could, just long enough for his daughter to be old enough to take care of themselves. His pain had been too great and he could take no more.

Yang said nothing to Ruby's comments. They drove on to a flower shop next to the cemetery. Ruby bought some flowers to lay on her parents' grave. Yang bought flowers too. Then they got back in the car and headed for their destination. "Yang, you passed them." Ruby said. She looked out the window toward her parents' grave as Yang drove on. "Yang…"

"I know." Yang said. "They're not why we're here."

"Then why are we here?" Ruby asked.

"There's something you need to see." Yang said. It was cryptic and Ruby did not understand, but the look on Yang's face told Ruby not to press the issue. Finally Yang stopped the car. She got out carrying the flowers she had purchased. Ruby left hers in the car and followed her sister.

"Where are we going?" Ruby asked. "What's this about?"

"Last night you were in pain, you were scared." Yang said. "I don't want that to happen again. I don't want you to forget again."

"Forget what?" Ruby asked. Yang stopped walking and pointed to a gravestone. She laid her flowers in front of it and stepped back. "Wait a minute." The name 'Jaune Arc' was chiseled on the stone, just below the pair of semi-circles that were something of a family symbol. "But…"

"Ruby, look at it." Yang said as her sister turned away. "Look at it and remember."

"Why did you bring me here?" Ruby sobbed. "I don't want to be here."

"I don't want to see you the way you were last night ever again." Yang explained. "You were so afraid that you could forget. Now you won't be able to forget anymore."

"I just...no, this is too much." Ruby cried.

"I'm sorry, but I had to." Yang said. She hugged Ruby despite her attempts to squirm free. "I know it hurts but it's for your own good. The only way you can move past it is if you accept what happened."

"I know but...it hurts so much." Ruby wept. "Maybe I can't remember because I don't really want to."

"Denying the truth isn't healthy." Yang said. "Neither is bottling everything up. First you have to accept that it happened. Then you can start working through it. And I'll be here to help."

"I miss him so much." Ruby cried. "He was my best friend."

"I know, it's alright." Yang said. "You still have me and Pyrrha, and we'll be here to help."

"Thank you." Ruby said. "I...I just...thank you."

Yang took Ruby back to their parents' grave. Ruby laid her flowers on it and had her usual one-sided conversation with them. Yang stood there and waited. She felt like in failing to protect Ruby, she had failed her parents. They had been trusting her to take care of Ruby, Summer as she lay dying, Taiyang as he went to join her. But now Ruby was broken, both physically and emotionally, and Yang could do nothing about it. It was almost too much to bear. Doing her best to hide it from Ruby she cried while Ruby talked away. Then Ruby said goodbye, pressed her hand against the stone, and stood. It was time to head home.

Yang composed herself and drove Ruby back to Pyrrha's apartment after stopping at her own place to pick up a few things. Yang was moving in until Pyrrha got back from her fight in Mistral. She hoped all the pain and sadness were behind her, that Ruby would get better. She also recognized that it might just be the beginning.

Yang opened her eyes. She did not know where she was at first. Her vision was blurry and the sounds were muffled. She looked around and one part of her view was clear. Pyrrha was standing at a podium speaking. Oh, Jaune's funeral. How had she fallen asleep? After all that had happened and traveling between continents, it was hardly surprising that she would be tired, but she still must have looked like a jerk. The others present would understand, hopefully. Yang did not want to be that person.

Pyrrha continued her eulogy and something about it started to bother Yang. The way she was talking about Jaune just was not quite right. It was too...intimate. They had been friends sure, but not even particularly close friends. Something was definitely off but Yang could not place it. The language got even more intimate. Words like "adored" and "loved" were mixed in. Yang's stomach was in knots. "Girlfriend." No, that was not right. That was not right at all. Yang looked to her right and there sat Jaune, crying along with a few others. Then who was…

Yang got up and rushed forward, approaching the closed casket and the inexplicably blurry portrait on a stand in front of it. It seemed so much farther away than it had been. When she got close the image resolved, a smiling portrait of her sister Ruby. "No but…" Yang gasped, tears in her eyes. "It can't be…" She felt a hand on her right shoulder. She turned to face the person touching her. "Mom?"

"You promised you would protect her." Summer sighed. "Why did you break your promise?"

"I...I…" Yang stammered. She felt a hand on her left shoulder and turned that way. "Dad?"

"I trusted you to take care of her Yang." Taiyang said. "I'm so disappointed in you."

Yang woke up in a cold sweat, lying on Pyrrha and Ruby's couch. She had had nightmares before but never one so vivid, so painful. She realized she was crying. Not just crying, she was shaking. She checked her phone. It was only about 4 AM. That dream… She got up and walked to the bedroom door. Summoning all her courage she slowly opened it, letting the little bit of light from the main room seep in. Ruby was lying in bed, sleeping peacefully. Yang breathed a sigh of relief.

Even knowing that it was all a dream and that Ruby was safe in bed, Yang could not calm down. Her tears continued to flow though she tried to compose herself. She needed something to calm herself down. She searched through the kitchen cabinets, looking for something, anything, to take the edge off. Buried in the back of one she found a bottle of whiskey. It was fancy brand-name stuff, still sealed, probably another gift. She found a shot glass, opened the bottle, and went to work. Shot after shot. Still she could not calm down. Her hands were shaking too much to pour without spilling so after a few messy shots she started drinking straight from the bottle. It did not help. She kept going until her world went dark.

Yang's had a headache like she had never experienced before. Even all the times she had been punched and kicked in the head, even the few times she had been knocked out, she had never felt a headache like this. When she opened her eyes the sunlight only made it worse. The sounds were not helping either. The television was on, too loud. Once Yang's eyes adjusted to the light and she looked around she realized she was in Pyrrha and Ruby's kitchen, sitting on a stool, hunched over the counter. A mostly empty bottle of booze sat nearby, along with an empty shot glass and some spilled liquid.

"Ruby?" Yang called.

"I'm over here!" Ruby replied. Louder than the TV, way too loud.

"Oh, okay." Yang groaned. "You're alright?"

"Yeah, I'm just watching TV." Ruby answered. "You need to lay off the booze."

"Sorry I...I just had a bad night." Yang sighed. That nightmare...the memory cut straight through the hangover.

"Come on over and watch with me." Ruby offered.

"Oh, sure." Yang said. She got up, grabbed a bottle of sports drink out of the fridge then took a seat beside Ruby on the couch. "How are you feeling today?"

"Pretty good." Ruby replied. She almost sounded cheerful. "My headache isn't as bad as it was."

"I think it jumped into my head." Yang complained. "Well, I'm glad you're feeling a little better."

"I kind of regret not going to Mistral now." Ruby said. "I'm sure Pyrrha would have loved for me to be there."

"Don't worry about it." Yang said. "It's safer for you to stay here. I'm sure she understands." Yang wanted to tell Ruby about her nightmare but did not want to upset her sister. She needed to talk to someone but at the same time she did not want to. Being so affected by a dream, it was embarrassing. No, she would just have to deal with it on her own.