Summer seemed like a possible eternity as the season dwindled on.

Vanitas and Ventus sat near the river that flowed past their residences, poppy flowers brushing against their skin.

"So, do you want to go down to the subura tonight?" Vanitas suggested. "Don't you want to see Aqua?"

Blush tinged Ventus's cheeks. "Actually, I don't really need to see Aqua to get what I want..."

Vanitas raised an eyebrow. "Oh...?"

"I...I've been using my slave to satisfy my needs." Ventus stammered. Why did it feel so wrong to admit it aloud?

"So you've finally learned the true benefit of personal slaves," Vanitas said.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I've used my personal slaves to satisfy my desires ever since they appeared," Vanitas explained.

Something settled inside Ventus; was it relief?

"So I suppose it isn't a new concept..." Ventus mumbled.

"Of course not, but I congratulate you for becoming one of the many masters who use their slaves for sexual needs." Vanitas slapped Ventus's back, and Ventus blushed harder.

"Your face is as red as the poppies!" Vanitas cackled. "Oh, speaking of which, I discovered something new, as well."

Vanitas reached out to the poppies and plucked one. He handed it to Ventus.

"Was this all, just to give me flowers like a suitor?" Ventus asked. He snickered. "Are you trying to court me?"

"Look at that poppy flower. Do you see this sort of brown stuff oozing out? I was sitting by this river one day, just as you and I are now, and out of curiosity I picked one of the flowers and licked up the brown stuff. After a while, I started to feel very strange - but a good kind of strange - like the kind of good after a long, satisfying session, if you catch my drift." Vanitas explained.

"That sounds...intriguing." Ventus mumbled. "Are you going to make me try it?"

"If you're not afraid," Vanitas challenged.

Knitting his brows in determination, Ventus licked the brown substance caked to the seed pod of the poppy flower.

"It doesn't taste bad..." Ventus mused. "How long does it take to work?"

"It took several minutes for me." Vanitas admitted. He plucked another poppy and licked the brown stickiness.

After waiting in silence for what seemed like hours, a warm sensation flooded Ventus's senses. A nervous giggle bubbled from him, and he turned to see Vanitas's reaction. He felt as if he were blushing intensely, and his head felt light.

"It's working, isn't it?" Vanitas grinned crookedly.

"Definitely," Ventus agreed. He lay back in the tall grass, letting the warmth wash over him. Vanitas folded his arms behind his head and lay next to him.

Ventus watched the clouds roll across the summer sky. "Vanitas, do you think we will be friends until the day we die?"

"Is that the poppy speaking, or do you really want to know my opinion?" Vanitas responded.

"Both, probably," Ventus admitted.

"Well, if fate will take to us, then the outcome should be exactly what you hoped for." Vanitas replied. "The way I see it is, we've been together since we were children, so we should continue to be together until the end of our time in this world."

"Is that the poppy speaking, or is that really what you believe?" Ventus teased.

Vanitas turned on his side. "It's what I believe."

Warmth burst across Ventus's face again. He had never heard Vanitas speak so softly before, it was intriguing and alluring. He turned to face Vanitas, their eyes meeting. He swallowed thickly, suddenly overcome with nervousness.

"Has something gotten into you?" Vanitas wondered aloud.

"I think the poppy is playing with my sense of rationality, as it is with yours." Ventus stated, poking him in the side.

Vanitas laughed and lay on his back again. "That slave of your brother's is quite an interesting one, is he not?" He suddenly mused.

"Do not be so easily fooled, you saw how he nearly bested you in swordplay at your birthday celebration; he could be dangerous." Ventus refuted quickly.

"It seems to me that your brother is the one tying him down. He is no Terra, trust me." Vanitas argued.

"Are you saying his skills with slaves usurp mine? I've kept Terra held down for -" Ventus paused. He counted on his fingers silently the months Terra had spent in his household. "For almost four years."

"Why did you pause?" Vanitas asked.

"Because..." A smirk spread across his lips, and he stood, "I just remembered a deal I had made almost four years ago. Come, how far is the market from here?"

"Pick up the pace, we don't have all day." Ventus demanded, tugging Terra's chain.

The three young men tromped through the crowded market, dodging the bustle. Ventus scanned the crowd, searching for the slaveholder whom had sold Terra to him those years ago.

"How do you even know he'll be here?" Vanitas asked.

"He has to be here," Venus insisted.

Soon, a miracle: his eyes locked onto the figure in the distance. Ventus broke into a run, nearly choking Terra as he raced to meet his target.

"Sir! Excuse me! Slave trader!" Ventus shouted above the crowd.

The man turned to the source of the voice, and his eyes widened at the sight of a grown Ventus.

"You look familiar...have I seen you before?" He asked, his eyes then drifting to Terra. Ventus could see the connection form in the slave trader's eyes.

"You promised four years ago that if my father could manage to keep this exact slave for a year, you'd give him half his solidii
spent on this very slave." Ventus stated.

The slave trader chuckled. "That was four years ago, you should've come to me sooner when the offer was still alive."

"But sir, I've managed to keep him for more than a year; that should mean
something to you. And trust me, it has not been easy to keep him." Ventus protested.

"Look kid, that was four years ago; do you think I have the time or money to fulfill a ridiculous promise I made to a child?" The slave trader snickered.

"You didn't promise me, you promised my father." Ventus corrected him. He formulated a lie, "And my father is not the type of person to be happy when he realizes he's been tricked out of a deal."

"Well, your father isn't here right now, just a stupid child who thinks he can arrange business deals on his own." The slave trader spat.

"You said this slave had a history of running away, and I'm the one who finally succeeded in keeping him for four years. I should be allowed at least
half of what my father paid for him." Ventus demanded.

The slave trader locked eyes with Terra, who grimaced in return. He circled Terra, inspecting him as if he were to buy him back. "Is it true you haven't run away since you entered their household?"

Terra replied in a hoarse voice, "Yes, sir."

"Well, I will say it is impressive a mere child has kept him held down this long, and with hardly any visible signs of inflicting discipline. I suppose I could
offer you at least a quarter of what was paid for him..." The slave trader's voice trailed off.

"Excuse me? I don't think I heard you correctly." Ventus pressed.

"I said I would give you a quarter of what was paid. I shall give you no more than that, and if you refuse, then I shall give you nothing." The slave trader insisted.

Ventus shot a glance at Vanitas, who nodded in agreement. "Then I shall take your offer."

The two men shook hands, then the trader gave Ventus a pouch of solidii. "By the way, how
doyou discipline him if he appears to have no visible scars?"

Ventus gave the man a sly grin. "Let us just say my method of discipline is almost like a reward for the both of us."


Ventus bid Vanitas farewell for the day, and dragged Terra home. The pouch of coins jingled as Ventus tossed the pouch up and caught it in his hand.

When they had returned, he unhooked the chain from Terra's collar. "Father, I have returned!" He shouted.

Ansem appeared in the entrance hall at the sound of Ventus's voice. "What is it, and where have you been all day instead of studying? You came home to fetch Terra and left again."

"I - was asking for Vanitas's opinion on the passage you gave to us last week, when I suddenly remembered something: Do you remember four years ago when we first purchased Terra, the slave trader said he would return half of your
solidiiif you managed to keep Terra for a year?" Ventus explained, spilling only half the truth.

"I vaguely remember," Ansem replied, "but that was just a silly gamble, nothing serious. Why do you ask...?"

Ansem knew his son well enough to know Ventus had disregarded the meaningless bet and taken it for a true deal, and yet part of him hoped Ventus hadn't carried out the deed.

"Well, Vanitas and I went down to the marketplace and reunited with the slave trader. I convinced him to give me at least a quarter of what you had paid for Terra since it has been four years. Here it is." Ventus shook the pouch in front of Ansem.

Ansem let out a sigh. "Ventus, I had never intended to receive anything from the slave trader. What he said was nothing more than a sarcastic gamble. I want you to return to the marketplace at once and return the money to him."

"But Father - " Ventus began, but his father interrupted.

"I will have none of your argument, Ventus; you are old enough to take responsibility for your actions." Ansem stated firmly, and returned to his study.

Ventus clenched the pouch in his fist. "What is the use? He will never applaud me for anything I do, so what is the point in even trying to appease him anymore? He thinks I'm nothing but the latter child, the one meant only for mischief and for ruining his plans. Well then, if he thinks that way, then I suppose there is nothing left to do but act exactly as he expects me to."


Translations

- Semper eadem - Ever the same

Note about opium: It has been discovered opium was used as a painkiller in Ancient Rome. Unfortunately, I don't know a lot about opium and I'm not sure if I described the experience accurately.