Board Thread:Speculation House/@comment-24.247.91.107-20140511154823/@comment-24219008-20140804025408

Zolnir wrote:

It can be a divorce, but then Ruby and Yang gelling with each other so well doesn't seem too... realistic. I know realism is pretty bullshit in this show (it goes unexpectedly anime with Jaune's arc (heh) for example), but really, it's rare to see the daughters of the er, conflicting mothers to have such close relationship with each other. Considering Yang was only two when Ruby was born, I highly doubt Yang remembers much about her mother if this is the case. I believe Yang's mother either died or walked out on Yang's father shortly after Yang was born, leaving him to raise her on his own, until Summer Rose came into the picture. Since Ruby and Yang are so close in age, assuming that Summer Rose stuck around long enough for Ruby to really get to know her, Yang probably knew her well enough to respect Summer and look at her as the mother figure she didn't really have the chance to have with her own.

And as for why the two have different last names, it's possible "Rose" was Summer's maiden name, and Ruby only adopted it after her mother's death to honor her memory. Either that, or Yang goes by her mother's maiden name rather than her father's.

....Man, I hope they clear this up at some point this volume, because the speculating is driving me crazy!