Those Of A Lifetime

Chapter One: The Memory

The skies were a bright yellow and orange illuminating the trees and buildings giving them a nice touch of a warm hue matching the foliage season. It was about mid afternoon in the world of Patch. Patch was a quiet place surrounded by trees and woods and small shops. A small lowley populated city where its children are brought up with admiration that one day they would get accepted into the prestigious school of Beacon Academy where they would be able to lead a better life and make a living for themselves as either hunters or huntresses.

Despite the fact of it being a poor a town, Patch held one of the greatest schools ever for those who dream of becoming a hunter or huntress. But many have too much pride to send their children to Signal Academy. Yes the school may have lacked some resources, but they're teachers were ones that couldn't be found anywhere else. They taught with passion and determination. All knew where they came from, for the faculty themselves had grown from Patch and are currently still residing there.

One student of Signal Academy anyone could say, slacks off a bit. Her name was Ruby Rose. She would daydream about whatever that came to her mind just about everyday to keep herself sane. It wasn't that school was so stressful, she was trying to cope with her demons that haunts her til present day. One, the world snatched her mother away from her all too soon she believed. But could she blame anyone for what happened? Her mother chose to go on a mission. And never returned. Ruby was proud to have such an amazing and courageous mother, but it hurt too much to know that there was no possible way she would be returning home. All Ruby really had left of her was a red cloak that she wore religiously. Her mother owned a white one. The red cloak was a gift from her mother when Ruby first discovered her semblance, speed. It was much too big for her at the time. Her mother said eventually she would grow into it. And on that day, her mother repeatedly told her that she loved her, love she wasn't going to have another moment with her daughter in the future.

Not only that, she had a best friend that was taken away to go back to Atlas. Does her friend even think of her now? Does her friend even remember her? Could she remember her? All these thoughts would puzzle Ruby to the point where she had to write them down on paper. But it was creative writing the she had another form of skill to rather than just spacing off. Whenever Ruby would be feeling down or disturbed, she would write some lyrics and even play guitar. She was never really a fan of singing, but her good friend inspired her to do so. Her friend had a voice that could ripple the waves of water. Her friend was musically talented. From percussions to string instruments, her dear friend had a strong background in those instruments. Ruby had a history of self harm, but music had a way of keeping her from inflicting pain upon herself.

Training in outskirts of Patch would help Ruby's aggression, but sometimes it would trigger some problems leading her to go back to her bad habits. Although fighting or training could cost Ruby's life for recklessness and provoke self harm, in her combat class, she would come out at the top of the class, undefeated.

And here she was, Ruby Rose. With her head rested on her arms at her desk on her journal that she keeps record of all the lyrics she has written. Ruby is now 17 and would be attending Beacon Academy the very next day. Her vacation consisted of training, writing, singing and playing guitar and also reading. Ruby is a quiet girl and would only speaks unless spoken to. She has kept to herself ever since the news came around about her mother.

Ruby was dozing off, but the music playing through her headsets awoken her for what seemed to be the tenth time already. What was playing a song called Everything by Before Their Eyes. Every time this song would play she would think about her mother or make up a scenario about her and her friend. She wasn't sure if she was on love with her childhood friend or she has become a little obsessive over her.

What was her name again? Ah, Weiss Schnee. How could I forget? No. I'm just trying to forget. So that maybe all this pain of when you disappeared would wash away. But the more I try to forget, the more I remember. And the more I hope you haven't forgotten about me. Maybe I am in love with you... but it would be a dream if you were to love me too. If you were to see me now, would you be able to recognise who I am now that my hair is cut off?

Some thoughts then flickered to Ruby's past.

Ruby stood in front of the mirror gripping onto her long dark red and black hair. It was a mess, like a bird's nest. She saw that her skin was pale, she had bags under her eyes. She grabbed a pair of scissors and began to carelessly snipping away her hair until the back touched the very end of her neck. Her bangs she kept long, one side of it completely covering her right eye. She slammed her fists against the counter and cried. Ruby was 13 at the time and her family was slowly falling apart.

She had a sister named Yang. Yang was a great sister. She cared after Ruby when Ruby's mother wasn't around anymore. But there was only so much Yang could take. She has her own battles as well. Her mother left her. And Yang's depression was eating at her spreading like wildfire to the family. Ruby looked up to Yang, but seeing Yang fall, Ruby slowly saw no purpose in anything.

Ruby lifted the sleeve to her right arm and ploddingly began to cut her bicep.

[End of Flashback]

Weiss, would you look at me the same? Would I still be the same person to you if you were to see me again? Could we still be friends? Would you... still love me? Do you love me? Did you ever love me?

Ruby pushed herself away from her desk and went to lay on her bed.

"Tomorrow is a big day. I'll be starting the same school as Yang." Ruby mumbled as she looked across her room to Crescent Rose, her signature weapon forged at Signal. It brought back memories of the time she spent training her dear friend, Weiss. "Will I ever be able to see you again? Why did you even have to go?" Ruby smacked her forehead with her palm. "Ugh, here I go again thinking of you. While I don't even know if you still think of me. Is it wrong to have such strong feelings for someone like this?"