Forbidden Love
Chapter 4: Redemption and Relaxation
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the rights to the Kingdom Hearts franchise
Vanitas sadly walked along the shore. He had never felt so sorrowful before. He looked at the pitch black sky.
"At least the darkness accepts me," he said to himself.
"It's more welcoming than most would believe," a voice said. Vanitas turned to his left and noticed a hooded man sitting on the rock.
"Who are you?" Vanitas asked. The man chuckled.
"I wish I could answer that with certainty. Most of my memory is gone," the man explained. He sadly looked at the ground.
"It's embarrassing. I can't even remember my own name," Ansem stated with self-pity. Vanitas felt sorry for the stranger.
"Wow…that's horrible," Vanitas said. Ansem turned to him.
"What are you doing here on the beach? Aren't you Aqua's friend?" he asked. Vanitas took a seat next to the man.
"We were more than that…but not now," Vanitas sadly replied. Ansem examined the young boy. He had a striking resemblance to Sora. The scientist couldn't help but wonder what happened between Aqua and Vanitas.
"Really? What happened?" Ansem asked with curiosity.
"My old master, Xehanort, took over my friend's body. He confronted me, and I killed him. Yet she was under the impression that it was her friend. So she cried, and told me to leave," Vanitas explained. He looked at the sky.
"Those amazing blue eyes…were so sad…" Vanitas stated. Ansem felt sorry for the young lad, yet he was distracted by the name the boy mentioned. Xehanort. Why did it seem so familiar? Then, everything began to flow back into Ansem's mind. He remembered who he was and how he arrived in the Realm of Darkness.
"I remember…everything…"Ansem said in shock. Vanitas turned to him in surprise.
"Your memory's back?" Vanitas asked. The man nodded.
"My name's Vanitas. What's yours?" the boy asked.
"Ansem the Wise," the older man answered. The pair looked at the waves slowly crash against the shore. Vanitas wondered if Aqua would forgive him. He remembered an old conversation with his master about the concept of forgiving:
Vanitas and Xehanort stood atop a plateau in the Keyblade Graveyard. Vanitas was looking at his master as he lectured.
"Forgiveness is unnecessary, Vanitas. No matter what crime you commit, there is no need to be forgiven. As followers of darkness, we must not feel guilt," Xehanort explained. Vanitas curiously examined him.
"What if I murder somebody for no reason?" Vanitas asked. Xehanort chuckled.
"Then you should be given a medal. We cannot show any mercy to our opponents. Such a thing is unfitting for warriors of darkness" Xehanort replied.
"Master, is it really necessary to be this cruel?" Vanitas asked. Xehanort glared at him. His apprentice rarely questioned his orders.
"Why do you continue to doubt me? We follow darkness, and as such, we are destined to rely on manipulation and cruelty. It is in our nature," Xehanort explained.
"But what if we were to act with compassion?" Vanitas inquired.
"Vanitas, I can promise you this. The more hatred you display, the more power you will have from darkness," Xehanort assured him. He noticed that the apprentice still had uncertainty.
"Besides, doesn't it feel empowering to act so cruel?" Xehanort asked him. Vanitas nodded with an evil grin.
"It does" he admitted. Xehanort smiled, glad that his apprentice was on what he considered to be the right path.
"But if light is so bad, then why is it needed to create the X-Blade? Why do I have to merge with Ventus?" Vanitas wondered. Xehanort sighed, realizing that it wouldn't be easy to explain.
"Light isn't necessarily bad. It is simply weaker than darkness. But light and darkness are both needed in the world. That is why we follow the darkness. Our dark presence counteracts the presence of those who follow the light, such as Eraqus," Xehanort informed him. Vanitas nodded in understanding.
"And his apprentices: Aqua, Ventus, and Terra," Vanitas added. Xehanort chuckled.
"I'm not so sure about Terra," the old man remarked. Vanitas looked at him in confusion.
"What are you implying?" Vanitas asked.
"Terra will soon give into darkness. And once he does that, I will take over his body," Xehanort told him. Vanitas raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"You're going to possess him?" Vanitas asked.
"This body is old, Vanitas. I'm a shadow of my former self. Since there's no way to grow younger, I need a new body. Furthermore, this body must be as powerful as my old one was. Which it will be…" Xehanort elaborated.
"Terra is really that strong?" Vanitas asked. Xehanort nodded.
"Once he gives into darkness, he will be even stronger than me. But it won't matter once I control his body," Xehanort said.
"Should we really be possessing people?" Vanitas asked. Xehanort put his hands on the boy's shoulders.
"Vanitas, believe me…we're doing the worlds a favor. When these plans unfold, Kingdom Hearts will be ours, and we will change the universe for the better. The light will strengthen the darkness, and the darkness will strengthen the light. All our fates will intersect, and the worlds will return to a perfect state: an even balance between darkness and light," Xehanort promised. Vanitas nodded, believing his master. He mischievously grinned.
"Then I'll be sure to be as cruel as I can be," Vanitas assured him. Xehanort grinned as well.
Vanitas ended his flashback and turned to the hooded man. "Do you believe in forgiveness, Ansem?" Vanitas asked. He nodded.
"I truly do. After all, I am in great need of it," Ansem replied. Vanitas looked at the man strangely. How could this kind man have done anything evil?
"What did you do?" Vanitas asked.
"Long ago, I was overthrown by my apprentices. I was trapped in a realm of nothingness, and if it weren't for my writings, I would have ceased to exist," Ansem began to explain. Vanitas wondered what it would be like to no longer exist. It was a strange concept. Ignoring that thought, Vanitas continued to listen to Ansem.
"When I escaped that realm, I sought to have revenge. In trying to have vengeance, I did horrible things to a young boy and his friends, things that changed some of them forever…" Ansem said. He remembered what had happened to Riku: how he had been forced to use the power of Xehanort's Heartless to awaken Sora. He felt guilty for changing that boy into a man of darkness.
"If I ever return to the Realm of Light…I sincerely hope they'll forgive me…" Ansem said.
"I wish Aqua would forgive me," Vanitas sadly stated. Ansem turned to the boy.
"Did you try to talk with her again?" Ansem asked. Vanitas shook his head.
"Give it a try. She's probably calmer by now," Ansem suggested. Vanitas stood up and smiled at the man.
"Thank you, Ansem," he said with gratitude. The boy ran off towards where Aqua was. Ansem's gaze returned to the water.
"I feel that he's made of darkness…yet he's so much like you, Sora…" Ansem muttered.
Aqua sadly sat on the shore, her face still streaked with tears.
"Terra…were you in there?" Aqua asked. Suddenly, Aqua felt something pierce her back. She fell to the ground, and painfully turned around. The girl widened her eyes in astonishment at the figure she saw. He had a ponytail, an eye-patch, and was holding a gun in each hand.
"That should restrain you" the man said with a smile. She narrowed her eyes at the familiar man.
"What are you doing here?" Aqua asked.
"I don't think we were properly acquainted last time. My name's Braig," Braig said. Aqua started to charge at him, but collapsed on the ground from a sudden lack of energy.
"What…what did you do to me?!" Aqua yelled in confusion.
"Energy draining shards. Very hard to come by. They've basically drained your energy," Braig explained. He noticed the ashes next to her. He stared at them in surprise, and thought that they seemed somehow familiar.
"Is that…Xehanort?" Braig asked.
"It's what's left of Terra," Aqua replied. Braig laughed.
"Oh, you still think that was Terra?!" he asked with amusement. Aqua stared at him with a puzzled expression.
"Xehanort took over Terra's body. Eventually, he got rid of Terra's heart," Braig explained. Aqua looked at the ashes.
"So…Terra wasn't in there?" she asked. Braig shook his head.
"Nope, not a single trace of him was left in there, dude," Braig said. Aqua suddenly regretted everything that she said to Vanitas. He pointed the guns at her.
"And speaking of not leaving a single trace…" he said with a grin. Aqua narrowed her eyes, knowing that she couldn't stop him. Despite that, she summoned her Keyblade, and put it in front of her.
"Do your worst," she said darkly. Braig grinned. Before he could fire a shot, a object suddenly was sticking out of his chest. Aqua realized that it was Vanitas's Keyblade. Braig's smiled disappeared, and his eyes slowly shut. He fell to the ground, and slowly turned into ash. Aqua looked up to see Vanitas retrieve the weapon.
"Sorry, dude," Vanitas said to the remains. He turned to Aqua.
"Aqua…I'm…" Vanitas began to say. Before he could say another word, Aqua wrapped her arms around him.
"I'm sorry for everything that I said, Vanitas. Can you forgive me?" Aqua asked. He smiled warmly.
"Of course," Vanitas replied. He noticed the shards sticking out of the girl's back.
"How much pain are you in?" Vanitas asked with concern. Aqua remembered the shards in her back. She pulled them out and grunted in pain. She cast a cure spell on herself and the wounds healed.
"I'll be alright," Aqua assured him. Vanitas lay with the girl on the beach.
"Do you want to go somewhere more comfortable?" Vanitas asked. Aqua looked at him curiously.
"What?" she asked.
"You know…like a hotel or something…" Vanitas said. She smiled at the thought, but her smile disappeared when she remembered that she was broke.
"But I don't have any munny…" Aqua said. Vanitas took out a bag that was slightly larger than his hand.
"Leave that to me," Vanitas told her with a grin. Aqua smiled in response.
"Okay, then let's go!" Aqua exclaimed. Vanitas summoned a portal of darkness, and the pair entered it.
The pair ended up in Radiant Garden. Vanitas looked around the area.
"Man…the place has barely changed in twelve years…" he said. The town, despite being destroyed a few years earlier, looked as beautiful as it did years ago.
"What happened to it?" Aqua wondered. Vanitas shrugged and saw a large building. The top of the building read The Radiant Refuge.
"Here it is…" Vanitas said. He entered the building with Aqua.
The pair examined the insides of the hotel. Vanitas approached the man at the counter.
"How may I help you?" the man asked. Aqua went next to Vanitas.
"I'd like a room for the night," Vanitas said.
"Single bed?" the man asked. Vanitas's eyes lit up. He hadn't even considered if Aqua would be comfortable in the same bed with him.
"Uh, Aqua?" Vanitas asked.
"Single bed please," Aqua told the man. Vanitas smiled and returned his gaze to the man at the counter.
"By the way, what's the fanciest room I could get for 5,000 munny?" Vanitas asked.
"Well, the best suite we have is on the tenth floor. It's about a thousand munny for one night," the man told them. Vanitas gave the man the munny needed.
"Alright, here it is," Vanitas said.
"Thank you. Here's the key to your room. Enjoy your stay," the man said while handing Vanitas the key.
Vanitas and Aqua stood at the door of their room. Vanitas opened the door, and the two entered it. They looked at the interior in awe.
"Woah!" Vanitas said in surprise. The room had marble tiling and a bar with a mahogany finish. The bed was huge and looked incredibly comfortable. Next to the bed was a sofa, and in front of that was a huge LCD television.
"This room is great!" Aqua exclaimed. She jumped on the bed and felt how comfortable it was. Vanitas walked over to the bar, and examined the drinks. Aqua noticed this.
"Are you gonna drink any of that?" Aqua asked. Vanitas shook his head.
"I've never been much of an alcohol guy. I'll stick to soda," Vanitas replied. Aqua nodded.
"Yeah, I feel the same way," Aqua responded. Vanitas lay down next to Aqua, smiling at her. He softly brushed her hair.
"I missed you so much" Vanitas told her.
"I'm so sorry for what I did, Vanitas. You saved me from Braig, and Xehanort as well," Aqua said.
"As long as I'm with you, Aqua, I'll do everything I can to protect you," Vanitas promised. Aqua giggled.
"Who knew a Keyblade master needed protection?" Aqua joked. Vanitas started to kiss her, and she fully returned it. Vanitas opened his eyes for a moment, and noticed the sheet for room service. He broke the kiss.
"Why don't we get something to eat?" Vanitas asked.
"Sure," Aqua said with a nod. Vanitas picked up the sheet and the two viewed it together.
"So…what sounds good?" Vanitas asked. Aqua looked through the list.
"How about the penne with vodka sauce?" Aqua asked. Vanitas nodded.
"Alright…what about the drink?" he asked.
"I'll have water," Aqua said.
"Okay, I'm gonna have root beer," Vanitas said. He picked up the phone and dialed the front desk.
"Hello, we'd like to order room service. Could you send two orders of penne with vodka sauce, a root beer, and a bottled water to room 256?" Vanitas asked.
"Sure thing. It'll take about fifteen minutes," the voice on the phone replied.
"Thank you," Vanitas replied. He turned to Aqua.
"They said it would take about fifteen minutes," Vanitas informed her. Aqua mischievously smiled.
"Then that gives us fifteen minutes to do whatever we want…"Aqua purred. Vanitas smiled in response, and turned on the television. Aqua hung her head in disappointment.
"Not what I had in mind…but whatever..." Aqua said. She curled up next to Vanitas.
A pair of empty plates with scraps of food were on a stand next to the bed. Vanitas was lying in bed next to Aqua.
"That was delicious," Aqua said. Vanitas nodded in agreement.
"Well, I've had a long day. I think I'm gonna go to sleep," Vanitas said. He turned to her and began to kiss her. Aqua fully returned it, and began to admire his muscular body. She suddenly had an urge to see more of it. She climbed on top of Vanitas, and felt his torso. He broke the kiss and looked at her in surprise.
"What are you…" he began to say. Aqua grinned. She had never been so happy in her life. Vanitas would do anything for her. And she returned that sentiment fully.
"I'm so in love with you Vanitas. I think...I think we should do it…" Aqua said. Vanitas looked at her in confusion.
"And what it might that be?" Vanitas asked. Aqua sighed and whispered something into his ear. His eyes widened.
"Oh…that it…" Vanitas said. Vanitas felt incredibly nervous. He truly thought that Aqua was the most beautiful girl he ever met. But should he really do this? Aqua, on the other hand, was eager to start it.
"Come on, Vanitas. Don't you want to?" Aqua asked. He sighed. He knew he'd regret this later.
"Aqua…no. I don't think we should rush this…" Vanitas said. Aqua looked at him with disappointment.
"But there's nothing wrong with kissing," Vanitas said with a smile. She smiled softly, and started to kiss him. The lover returned it, and the two continued to enjoy being with each other.