"I don't know what to tell you, Ven. I'm sorry."

Nothing in the world could make Terra feel as low as when he let Ventus down. The kid wasn't just disappointed, he was crushed, and Terra couldn't bring himself to look at those big, wet eyes all over again. He turns away instead, unable to think of anything else he could say to make it better and unwilling to wrack his brain over it when he already had this much stress on him from his other duties. This was just another thing Aqua would have to deal with; she was better at it, and—

"But Terra."

"Look, Ven, things like this happen. We'll go next week, okay?"

"That's what you said last time—"

"I know, but I mean it this time—"

"You promised!"

"Ven,"

Ventus took a shallow breath like that hurt him, and Terra regretted taking that tone.

"We don't have time."

He froze mid-step when Ventus grabbed his hand, and his grip was almost strong enough to hurt.

"When will we?"

He went quiet for the longest time, gaze never leaving the heart-shaped moon that glowed ever brighter with each minute that passed. He didn't move again until the image of it was burned behind his eyelids; he could see it even when he looked away, turning to regard Ventus with all the affection of a total stranger. A false smile pulled at his lips as he casually slid his hand out of Ventus's grasp.

"When you remember," he said slowly, reaching to cup the boy's cheek in his gloved hand. "Only then."

Ventus bit his lip, trying to read those persimmon eyes for any shred of truth, and as gently as if Xemnas could fade from an unkind touch, he ran his fingers over smooth leather and clutched. It was difficult just to look at him with his vision this hazy, and after an eternity of silence, he couldn't take it anymore. He lowered his head, almost nuzzling that hand, and let his breath go in a shaking exhale; it was only when Xemnas's thumb brushed over his cheek to wipe a tear away that he finally reacted, grasping his wrist and pushing it away from him.

"I am so tired of hearing you say that."

Terra's mouth split with a startled sound, and he kept his hand raised like he wanted to reach out and stop his friend from leaving. He hesitated.

"Come on, Ven..."

"Don't call me that."

"Ven—"

"Stop it." It wasn't like Roxas to get this angry, but Terra kept pushing and pushing and pushing and his faith was beginning to wear thin. As hard as those blue eyes were right then, though, he still couldn't seem to pin that blame on Terra — but every reminder of it's not his fault, he doesn't mean it got an answer of it's not fair, it's just not fair, and in his frustration he couldn't justify it anymore.

"You don't understand." Terra was addressing his back by now. "I'm only...I'm only doing what's right. What's best for us."

Roxas hesitated. Just because you think it's right...

"For all of us," Xemnas added.

Another eon. Ventus's shoulders slumped. "...I know."

"Then you know what must be done."

"Right...I can wait. I mean, after all..."

He turned just enough to look at Xehanort out of the corner of his vision, just enough for Xehanort to see a little gold.

"Aren't we friends?"