Hi, so hey kinda new here, hoping this turned out okay (first time I've done something like this).
I don't know why I just thought I'd give it a shot. Set in the time before Birth by Sleep so kinda my
prequel to a prequel, and of course enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything Kingdom Hearts, except a t-shirt.


-Prologue-

"Master, Master Eraqus!" a voice cried, a boys even though he was screaming it still came across muffled. He was close, very close, but she could tell he was rattled.

She couldn't understand why? She was so numb, nothing felt right. Something must be happening, maybe if she opened her eyes again-

No, she couldn't, all that black. All around her crushing, pulling her down deeper till there wasn't any more noise,
no more voices, she could hardly breath as it moved all around her. It had been cold, like someone dunked her under freezing water and she couldn't go up no matter how much her body begged for air.

"Master! Come on, hurry!" No, just another horrible trick her head was playing on her, she curled herself tightly against her own chest.
I won't look again. She felt hot tears burning her closed eyelids. I can't.

"Hey, p-please don't," the boy again still stammering but softer this time.

"Don't cry."

She uncurled slightly, her chin moving away from her chest. Was he talking to me? She felt the thumping of earth in her ear, then heard someone else, this time less muffled.

"Terra, what has gotten into-" The deep rumbling voice stopped suddenly, another one?

"I was running my laps when I saw her there," the boy explained. "She was crying." A deep 'Hmm' followed then she felt someone crouch carefully next to her. She shivered visibly, quick jerking motions all down her spine.

Are you real?

She was to afraid to ask, for this faint trace of light to be ripped out of her hands, to end up right back into endlessness.

Then very faintly she heard a shushing sound from the older man. "Don't be afraid, my dear, I have no intention of hurting you."

She felt his hand touch hers lightly, a strange warmth seeped into her finger tips, a light.

She opened her eyes squinting in the harsh midday sun, and as fast as it had been there it became darker.
She raised her head bit by bit as sharp cobalt eyes studied her closely, watching warily from mistrust or care she didn't know.

What she did know is for someone his age he was certainly built, well. Brawny shoulders lead to equally rugged, tanned arms, he was already very tall with darkened hair cropped and spiking wildly. Enough of it cooperated to frame the sides of his face; the light perspiration on his brow hardly seeming to faze its gravity-mocking ways.

A warm smile lit his strong features when he noticed her eyeing him probably just as cautiously. She glanced a little more to her right, to the "Master". He was tall as well, even crouched next to her, she could tell, strong too even if his nude robe tried masking the fact. His black hair was bound messily behind his head with a stray strand brushed to the side, a trimmed dark mustache under his nose and a small triangular shaped patch under his lower lip.

Her eyes grew round when she saw two jagged scars marring his sagacious face, one running down the left side of his face from his cheekbone with the other over his right eyebrow down a little past his steel eyes.

She shot a glance back into those eyes, he was just letting her take them in, all of it in. She felt her cheeks warm; she was being so rude staring at them like this. She looks down, his hand was still resting on hers.

She carefully pulls away and sits up slowly. Her head felt so heavy she almost wished she'd stayed down. She shook her head desperate to clear these cobwebs and begins to run her hands through the green turf. It felt comforting.

There's so much light here, in them, this place... Where-

A throat cleared, her head whipped to the boy causing a small shot of pain to wrinkle her forehead. He had an amused look on his face; a smile creeping onto his lips. "So you just gonna skip the part where you tell us who you are?"

"Terra!" The man snapped.

"What? She's the one who's being all cryptic!" He tosses back, his smile gone now. If her cheeks had been pink before you could bet munny that they were nearly magenta now. The man gives a slow shake of his head, disappointment creasing his face.

"It appears our 'talks' on conduct, especially the conduct of a gentleman, have again flown right over your head." 'Terra' just folds his arms over his chest, unfazed, and she thinks she saw his eyes roll.

"Maybe, I just wanna know her name! Is that too much to ask?"

"Aqua."

"Huh?" His dark head swung to look back at her.

"What did you say?"

She stops staring down at the lawn, and gives them both measured looks to the eyes, her cheeks not quite so flushed anymore.

"Aqua," she repeats and they both watch silently. "Is my name."


So, first off thank you for reading this far. Tell me if I did good, I'll need some praise to continue.

Did I not do so good? Tell me that as well, I came here for constructive criticism, and I intend to get my fair shake.

NO flames (If your new, it just basically CC but without the constructive part) first and last time I want to say this. Also I know the title says 'Rivals'(Very clever, I know), and my summery says it upfront, but not much rivalry stuff yet.

Hang in there with me I will start getting around to it soon-ish. I've always been a fan of TerraXAqua pairings, but you might not see too much of that here, I dunno pretty early, maybe if you squint. Review Please!

*Editing: just some spacing between paragraphs (I'll try and be better about catching that next time :P)