RWBY: Innocence

A Farewell

As the morning sun rose up into the sky and brightened up the camp, Kenzo and Yang stood at the gate together. They both knew exactly what was about to come, they both knew that it would hurt them both intensely but they also knew that it was inevitable. As they both stood opposite each other, both of them held back their tears as the thought of having to say goodbye tore their hearts to shreds.

"Yang...I'm really gonna...gonna..." Kenzo stuttered, choking back his tears.

Yang nodded, knowing exactly what he was trying to say.

"Me too..." She whispered, still nodding.

There was a slight breeze that made Kenzo's skin chill. He watched as Yang pulled her hair over her shoulder and awkwardly twisted it around, looking away for a moment. Kenzo's eyes swept over her hair, taking in every detail.

"I mean...This is what Ozpin wants..." She continued.

Kenzo studied her deep Lilac eyes, watching as they fluttered to try and keep Yang's tears welled up inside. He watched her bottom lip quiver for a moment, then saw it purse up as she sniffed.

"I know that this...is gonna be good for your...training..."

He couldn't help but gaze at her hands, almost hypnotised by the way that her fingers skillfully straightened out the tangled knots in her hair.

"But...I just want you...to know that...Kenzo...I...I..."

Kenzo looked up to see that Yang was on the verge of tears. As he looked at his lover, his memories took over and showed him everything that they had been through together. The first time they met, the moment he became Lazarus, the days she had spent searching for him, their first kiss, their first date, when she stayed by his side when he went to fight Torchwick and every other memory in between flooded into his mind...

And it drove him to tears.

"I'm gonna miss you!" He cried.

Yang was abruptly stopped mid sentence as Kenzo pulled her in by her shoulders to hold her. She felt his heavy breaths beat blow down her neck as he stifled his sobbing into her shoulder. She quickly wrapped her left arm around him and stroked the back of his head with her right hand. She could feel burning tears running down her cheeks as she began to cry as well.

"I'm...I'm gonna...I'm gonna..." She stammered through her tears.

She felt Kenzo's head rub against her shoulder, nodding in understanding. But even though she knew that he understood what she was trying to say, she said it anyways:

"I'm gonna miss you too..." She whimpered, holding him tighter.

As Yang held Kenzo in her arms, she remembered everything that they had been through and all the memories that she had of him. Seeing him frightened at his desk on his first day, all the training sessions they had skipped to just talk with each other, seeing him drunk at the bar, watching him become Lazarus, experiencing their first kiss, having their first date, watching him defeat Torchwick and sleeping by his side were many of the memories that she would cherish.

And she wanted Kenzo to have those memories go with him on his journey.

"Hey...I've got a gift for you..."

Kenzo pulled his head off Yang's shoulders, sniffled and looked into her eyes. He saw that they were still wet with tears, but it didn't take away just how beautiful she was to him. He watched Yang reach into her pocket and pull out a long, thin Black silk Headband. She took both ends of the cloth, stretched it out, put it up to Kenzo's forehead and wrapped it around his head. Raising his hands, Kenzo pinched the ends of the Bandana and tied it into a tight knot. As Yang took away her hands, she couldn't help but chuckle at how odd Kenzo looked with his hair stuck underneath the Bandana. Kenzo then corrected the look by pulling out his hair from under the Bandana and letting it fall loosely, completely covering the Bandana.

"...Thank you..." He said.

He then put out a hand and wiped the tears away from Yang's eyes. She clasped his wrist as his fingers caressed the skin on her cheeks.

"I'll be thinking about you at the tournament..." She mentioned.

Kenzo nodded, smirking slightly. He remembered that he would be missing the Vytal Tournament; the big event that was equivalent to his final exams. As annoying as it was that he would be missing his first tournament, Kenzo knew that there would be plenty more to come.

"Break a leg out there!" He encouraged.

Yang then flexed her left arm upwards to show her determination. As Kenzo turned to look at the camp, he spotted Indigo, Laura and Raphael waving at him from their tent.

"Don't worry guys! We'll win the tournament next year!" He called out, waving back.They smiled and walked back into their tent. Kenzo turned back to Yang, leaned in and planted a kiss on her lips.

"I love you..." He murmured.

Yang smiled and ruffled his hair.

"Love you too..."

 Kenzo then turned around and began walking away. As he took a few steps, he spun on his heel and began walking backwards to wave goodbye to Yang. He saw her waving back at him and blowing a kiss. He pretended to catch the kiss and turned around to keep walking.

"This is it...No turning back..." He muttered to himself.

Kenzo left to start his pilgrimage...

********

"Shall I?"

"You shall. Show no mercy and do what you must."

"Of course..."

"And don't forget Cinder...Kill Ozpin."

"Yes Lady Salem..."