Set mostly in the Land of Departure.

Thank you for the Reviews!
There were more than I expected when I woke up this morning so I decided to update early.
Reviews usually inspire me to work more quickly on a story. Is that weird? Haha!

Although I must say that I think most of you are expecting more from this story than what I actually have planned.
Unfortunately, this story is much shorter and simpler than you might think.
I'm estimating the total word count to be at 8,000 to 10,000 words.

If you're curious about what Caelum looks like, I have a drawing of him on my DeviantArt page.
My username there is Acquia.

Thank you once again for the Reviews!

[DISCLAIMER] I do not own Kingdom Hearts. [DISCLAIMER]


UNCONDITIONAL

As certain as the coming dawn.


Eraqus read her reports thoroughly before putting them aside. Then he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes in thought.

They were flawless. The texts were detailed and specific, highlighting important points with clear explanations. It would have been enough that she noted the appearances of the Heartless – how many and where and how often and what kind. But then she'd also described the best ways to dispose of certain breeds. Aside from that, she found the time to explore the worlds she visited and take notes on important information, like the general behavior of the locals and the environment. She had even mapped out the location of each new world on star charts.

Leave it to Aqua to be so precise. She was always his best pupil when it came to these things. But he also knew in his heart what else these details meant – she was trying to keep herself busy, preoccupied. Because, otherwise, she would think of her son…

Even now that the child has grown, even seeing him every day, hadn't softened the blow he'd felt when she first told him. That moment... he would never forget it.

He put his book down on the desk as someone knocked on his door. "Come in."

Slowly, the door opened and Aqua stepped in. He could tell immediately that something was wrong. She was not looking into his eyes as she closed the door softly behind her. And she stayed there, almost leaning against it. As if she was afraid to come closer.

"What is it, Aqua?"

"There's… something I need to t-tell you. But, I… Master, this is…"

She only ever stuttered when the matter was serious. He motioned for her to come closer but she didn't. And he said, "Aqua, you can tell me anything."

Her mouth opened, but the words were so soft that he didn't hear.

"What?"

She looked up. Her eyes were filled with such raw emotion.

"Aqua…"

The words fell out of her mouth. "Master, I'm pregnant."

His jaw dropped slightly and he froze for a minute. The thousand thoughts crashing around in his mind gave him a sudden headache. How could this happen? Well, of course it must have happened in the usual fashion, but… But Aqua? No, he expected this from the boys. Terra, probably. Ventus, even, when he got older, but not Aqua. Never Aqua. She was always so responsible and mature and… just how could this have happened?

The assumption hit him so hard as he walked towards her that halfway to her he said, "Terra?" Because, of course, who else could it be? And he had always been aware of his eldest apprentice's affections for Aqua.

But she shook her head. He reached her just as she whispered, "…no."

He was shocked. To even think that Aqua would go to other worlds and… and… commit such acts with who knows… "Who?"

She swallowed hard at a lump in her throat and she turned away from him. He could see the heat flush her cheeks and her lips quivering as she admitted the last name he expected to hear. "…Vanitas."

Xehanort's apprentice...

Eraqus saw his world collapse. His little girl was carrying the offspring of Xehanort's apprentice! A boy so steeped in darkness that Eraqus would not even be surprised if he was made of nothing but the stuff! And Vanitas had only been to the castle a handful of times! And he'd been banished because his dark nature was getting out of hand, because he fought unnecessarily with Terra, and because he tormented Ventus to no end… How did they even find time to do this? Had that boy actually influenced Aqua somehow? No, that was impossible! Unless he...!

"What did he do to you, Aqua?" That was it, wasn't it? That demon forced this on her! Because Aqua would never…!

The light in her eyes flickered, surprised. "What? What do you mean? I… We… He and I…"

He and I? "You did this willingly?" Eraqus couldn't believe it. He wouldn't.

But her gaze said it all. And the way her hand fluttered quickly to rest over her belly. Eraqus hadn't noticed it before but now he saw it. She was telling the truth.

"This cannot be."

"Master…"

"No, Aqua. You will not have that child."

Her expression hardened and her fingers tensed. "Have I made a mistake in telling you?" Her voice was suddenly firm and defensive.

Eraqus struggled to control himself. "You've made a mistake in… in that!" He pointed at her unborn child.

Her eyes flared. "How dare you? He is not a mistake!" She paused and tried to regain composure. "I respect you, Master, and I thought I owed you the truth."

The Master said nothing. Aqua was breathing heavily as they stared each other down. She was the first to look away and turn around. As she was about to open the door, she said, "I just wanted you to know. I'm sorry if I disappointed you." Then she walked out.

For the first time in her life, she turned her back on her Master.

Eraqus pressed his hand over his eyes. He hadn't handled that situation well. But there was nothing else to be done. He had complete faith in Aqua – he'd chosen her after all. Of his three pupils, she consciously had the purest heart. She always made the right decisions. Any child of hers would surely turn out the same. In this situation, however…

He couldn't shake his thoughts of Vanitas. His taunts and who knows what whispered threats always managed to get Ventus to withdraw into himself, ashamed and angry and unresponsive to anyone else. He fought with Terra on numerous occasions, once to the brink of death. If he hadn't intervened… Thinking on it now, though, that fight – it had been about Aqua.

The Master sighed heavily. He couldn't remember why it had been about Aqua. He couldn't recall if Terra was simply defending her from Vanitas or… Had there actually been something more, something deeper, between the three of them that he never knew about?

He'd never asked Aqua how she felt.

He shook his head. What did it matter now? From her Light and his Darkness came a child; a clever, arrogant young boy with skills worth boasting about. Much as Eraqus tried to hide it, he was proud of what Caelum has achieved so far. And aside from the occasional flashes of sharp rage and almost callous straightforwardness, the boy had exhibited no inclinations towards cruelty or hate.

Not even on the mother who'd left him.

Eraqus tried not to remind himself that it was he who sent Aqua away. At the time, it had seemed the best decision. But now… Now he was not so certain.


Thank You

~Alacquiene~