"The Catalyst" : A Yang Xiao Long AU! #RWBYWATTYS

Chapter 2 : "Running"

A/N Hey guys! I posted two chapters at once to extend the story! If you guys want more, comment and vote!

Rei awoke inside the infirmary. His eyes sleepily opened to the sound of shouting. Who could be shouting? And why?

Suddenly, he saw who was arguing.

"I do not care, Winter! My wife, your very mother, is dead!" Warren shouted. Winter's eyes allowed tears to stream uncontrollably, her emotions finally getting the best of her.

"That may be true, but you can't blame him for it." Winter said, taking multiple gulps and breaths with her voice breaking every word. She couldn't think straight, the sobs breaking into her voice.

"It is his fault! If he had just learned fencing like we had advised him to, maybe Crystal would still be alive!" Warren shouted, his face becoming more red by the minute. Winter just glared at him, the tears streaming from her cold eyes.

"I'm leaving." Winter said, pushing her 'father' aside and walking towards the front halls.

"Wait, Winter! Where are you going!?" Warren shouted, his anger causing his voice to rise.

"The army." Was Winter's short response.

---

The nurse attending Rei noticed that Rei had awoken, asking him a few questions then breaking to him the bad news: His mother didn't survive the arrow. Of course, Rei 's groggy mind from earlier couldn't process what was happening. Now though, Flint's mind properly processed the events. The tears began pooling in his eyes, his father also noticing that he had awoken.

Warren stored over, angrily.

"This. Is. Your. Fault." Warren seethed, then strode towards the door. He quickly stopped upon reaching the door, then turned around.

"You are no longer my son."

---

Rei sat in his bed, the blankets still pulled up to his waist. He sat up, looking out his window. As if by some strange, unforeseen coincidence, he could see the exact place his mother had been killed. He pictured the event in his head constantly, trying to see what he could have done. It had been two days since his mother's death and his father's disowning, and Rei hadn't been taking it well. He allowed depression to seep into his mind, taking over both his subconscious and his heart. Any thought at all would just lead to him staring silently at the window, not even looking at anything in particular. His ears suddenly heard the sound of someone opening his door and walking into his room.

"Rei?" Weiss asked as she looked at her brother. His gaze stood outside his window, not even acknowledging her. She sighed, this had been happening a lot. He ignored everyone, even Winter when she came in to say goodbye.

"Rei, I know losing mother was hard but....." Weiss' voice was suddenly attacked by sobs, her tears appearing from nowhere.

"Please, Rei. I can't do this anymore. I can't look at everyone and pretend that I'm ok! Please...." Weiss swiftly walked towards her brother, placing her hand on his shoulder. She never expected for her brother to melt, to completely disappear.

"What!?" Weiss exclaimed. Her brother's body had melted in front of her.  She suddenly noticed a lump rising from his blankets. Weiss moved the now-wet blankets and found a recording device. She took it from the bed and threw the device on the floor, the hologram projector activating instantly.

"Hey Weiss. I'm guessing you found out. The current date is...." Rei's hologram paused, the tears showing themselves and his breath breaking. "It's the day after Mother died. I'm..... I'm leaving. Tell father as soon as you see this and tell him I hate him. Tell Winter I'm sorry........

And Weiss? One more thing. Keep training. You'll be amazing someday."