A shorter chapter this time, but important nonetheless.

Chapter 2

Aqua was biting at her thumbnail as she watched Ven and Terra launch themselves at each other from her bedroom window. Her hand was all but jittering. She wanted so badly to join them; she could almost feel her Keyblade in her grasp. She curled her fingers. The unnecessary fight would do her more harm than good. She briefly wondered if her friends could see her.

"Of course they can," she said aloud. "Terra looked right at me."

Her heart fluttered lightly as she watched Terra take a swing at Ven. The matches she had with her friends always made her race with excitement, but there was just something about when Terra fought that could make her almost lightheaded. She pressed her palms against the glass. Was it the way he put his entire being into each lunge? Or was it his firm gaze that he always had to never let his opponent out of sight? Could it be the fire in those same eyes that ignites when she is his competition? Aqua was so unsure.

A low growl came from Aqua's stomach. She wrapped her arms around her middle. The smell of food from downstairs called her name, but she knew it would just come back up if she tried eating. She focused her attention to the bag that sat on her bed behind her. It laid half packed with its zipper mouth agape, seeming to be begging for Aqua to finish packing it. She went over to it, zipped it up, and tossed it in her closet, knowing that it would not stay there for long. It was day 42, after all.

Aqua suddenly started coughing. She could feel something rising in her throat with each heave. It launched into her mouth with one final hack. She went to spit it out in her bathroom sink. It was another glob of some unknown black substance. She sighed and rinsed out her mouth, letting the grossness wash down the drain.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard outside their residence, Terra and Ven stood several yards apart from each other, lightly panting from their combat. Ven wiped the sweat from his brow.

"Tired yet?" the blond called.

"You wish!" Terra responded. They both dashed from their spots like kids in a race, but were not even close to each other when they came to a skidding halt.

In between them, swirling like a whirlpool, was a patch of darkness the size of a couch.

" Terra!" Ven cried out.

Before Terra could think of what to say, creatures with bright yellow eyes began to arise from the cursed spot.

"Heartless! Ven, don't let them get away!" Terra commanded. Ven, though his face said confusion, nodded. Keyblades poised, the two young men rushed themselves at the monsters. Terra did not flinch as his weapon ripped through the enemies. He could see his friend too cutting through the villains like butter with his backhand swings, obviously holding his own despite his initial disorientation. They made fools out of the heartless as they took care of them one by one. Though they were not a struggle to defeat, Terra was thankful there were not that many of them.

However, his relief was dashed as quickly as it came.

"Aqua! Ven, go look to make sure there aren't any more, I need to check on Aqua!" Terra took off for inside the house before even noticing if Ven had even heard him. He burst through the door and sighed in relief. Aqua was standing at the table, her eyes no longer on the plate of uneaten bacon in her hands.

"At least you're okay," Terra stepped inside. "But I'm afraid I have bad news. Heartless have appeared in Radiant Garden."

Aqua dropped her plate, letting it shatter on the floor.