Chapter 3

x.x.x

"Okay, so this family meeting starts now." Xehanort's deep voice echoed in the kitchen. After a brief greeting from Vanitas to his brother Terra, they all sat around the dining room table waiting for their father to show up and start the family meeting he announced the previous day. Terra picked at his breakfast not really wanting to hear what his father had to say. "Terra you may not know the details, but you know enough. Vanitas is sick."

"Sick with what?" Terra was lacking details, which tugged at the edge of his mind whenever he wasn't busy thinking about Aqua. He was pathetic, and yes he was well aware of it.

"Vanitas has leukemia. They have given him three years to live." Xehanort said in a remorseful tone. Terra shocked at his father's words, but as he thought about it, the signs were always there. Vanitas always had a weak immune system; he always got infections from cuts. And even bumping into something would give him a bruise that looked like he had gotten mauled by a bear. He looked over at his brother and Vanitas had is head down unwilling to make eye contact with either his father or his brother.

"Is that all for this family meeting?" Terra said impatiently standing up from his chair. All he wanted to do was sit in his room in his own self pity and reflect on what he did wrong to deserve what was happening to him.

"That's another thing I want to talk about." Xehanort said standing up along with Terra. He put a hand on his sons shoulder and forced the younger man to sit down again. "Whenever things got rough, instead of facing them you ran away. This time I am not letting you do that." Xehanort scolded Terra.

"Last time," Terra said as he stood up to stand over his father. "You told me you didn't care if I left. You actually encouraged it when I brought up the idea. I am a grown man now, so don't lecture me like a child like you should have when I left." Terra snapped back at his father, now wasn't the time for Xehanort to scold Terra as if he were a child.

Terra walked out of the kitchen storming up the stairs, his father's followed his to the bottom of the staircase before bellowing back an answer at his son.

"Family sticks together, especially during these times!" Xehanort decided to use the guilt trip on his very difficult son. Terra was furious at this tactic and stopped dead in his tracks, and turned around and looked down at his father at the bottom of the staircase.

"We have never been a family, what makes you think we can start being one now?" Terra didn't say these words with hatred nor anger or anything reflecting the rage filled atmosphere between the two. He simply said those words with an almost saddened tone.

Xehanort gave up just like Terra had, they didn't have the energy nor did they want to continue fighting like this. Even though this argument was far from over, it was done talking about for now. And thankfully both males realized this.

"Dad, I want to go back home." Terra didn't mean Traverse Town, he meant Twilight Town. Where his real family is. It was his uncle who took him in without question, his best friend Ventus, and of course the girl he was still madly in love with Aqua.

x.x.x.

Aqua's move to Destiny Islands was most likely not the greatest idea at first. But as time went by, things started to fall into place. She found a job at a local restaurant, she was going to school, and she had a great place to stay. It turns out her classmate Kairi was renting a room in her apartment, and the two clicked immediately. What made it even more spectacular was that the apartment overlooked the ocean. So every day she would wake up to see the sun rising over the clam ocean.

It was perfect. She kept in touch with her family regularly, mainly Ven though, since all her father talked to her about was that she should come back. She wanted her space and she also needed time to figure out what she wanted to do before she went back. She just wanted to see what the world was like on her own.

That time at the train station a few weeks back only upset Aqua more regarding the subject about her mother. When they ran into each other, her mother totally disregarded Aqua and left as quickly as she had appeared.

"Aqua! Wanna go to a party with me?" Kairi chimed into the apartment as she set the groceries on the counter. They shared a small apartment that wasn't very spacious but it wasn't cramped at the same time. It consisted of four rooms, two bedrooms, a bathroom, and one main area that included the kitchen, dining room, and living room.

Aqua was sitting on the couch studying for her next test when Kairi walked in the door. She got up and started to help unpack the groceries when Kairi ran into her room and pulled out a couple of clothing items and showed them all to Aqua.

"I know you aren't into this stuff, but..." Kairi started to explain, but Aqua cut her off immediately.

"I am not going to wear that." Aqua yelled in disgust when she saw the dresses. She dropped all that she was doing and put her hand in Kairi's face whenever she tried to speak any words of protest to Aqua's 'inability to be a girl' as she has stated several times since they have lived together.

A very much offended Kairi stormed back into her room and didn't come back out until she was fully dressed and ready to go out. She was wearing a pink dress, and her hair was pulled into an intricate braid at the back of her head. She gave a half smile to Aqua as she headed towards the door.

Aqua, noticing the little bit of hurt Kairi was feeling, felt bad for the other female. Many times she had wanted Aqua to go out with her, but since she was always busy with work and school she never had the time to go out with Kairi. It was the weekend, and she needed time to herself once in a while.

"Okay, if any of your dresses fit me. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'll go with you." Aqua finally admitted.

"I knew one day my persistence would pay off!" Kairi screamed in excitement as she ran back into her room and pulled out a multitude of dresses that Aqua never thought only one girl could own.

In the end, Aqua was wearing one of Kairi's black strapless dresses that showed most of her legs. Aqua felt uncomfortable with every move she made, even with Kairi's many encouragements.

They exited the apartment and hopped into Kairi's car when Aqua decided to ask something she should have before.

"Where are we going?"

"My cousin Namine's house. Their parents are gone for the weekend, so they decided to throw a party." When Kairi said this, Aqua felt excitement bubble at the pit of her stomach. She had always wanted to do something bad. As if this counted as 'bad' in the real world.

"Well stop talking and start driving, I don't want to be late." Aqua said in a matter-of-face tone. Kairi flashed her a smile.

"That's more like it."

x.x.x.

Sorry I've been really busy with work; remind me not to tell my manager that I can work all seven days of the week... I am dead tired but I'll try to write another chapter for tomorrow as an apology I guess. So like usual please review I love your feedback!