Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts/Final Fantasy/Characters © Square Enix.

OC Characters © xWhitexWindx.

Warning: Alternate Universe. Contains swearing, suggestive themes, heterosexual & homosexual pairings, and violence.

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~Dark Desires~

-X-

He screamed her name, rushing forward and catching her body, seeing the blood pouring from her stomach. Angeal stood in horror, eyes wide before he gave his own cry, rushing forward. Ven raised his Keyblade, the teeth of it poised at the man's neck, only for blue eyes to lock.

"Please…"

Ven nodded, his blade vanishing as Angeal then grasped the hilt of the sword. He pulled it out quickly, her life essence sliding down the blade and dripping in a steady cascade. She coughed, blood sliding from the corner of her mouth as she looked up at Ven's face.

"Rayne, no…stay with me… please…"

She weakly reached up to cup his cheek, tears falling from eyes that held the sweetest sadness, raining on her beautiful face. He took pressed her hand to his cheek, kissing her palm, pleading with her to keep breathing.

"Ventus…"

"Shh… don't speak…"

She winced, giving another violent cough.

"I…I need to tell y-you something… Ventus, I love you too…"

"Then stay with me! Don't leave me, Rayne! I need you and love you more than anything! Please, don't leave me!"

Tears slid down her face, "I-I have to… Angeal is right… I would've…destroyed you."

She convulsed with agony, before she started to close her eyes. A heart-wrenching scream filled the castle's hollowed halls, before Ventus summoned every bit of energy he had. His eyes took on an opalescent glow, white light filling the halls. Time seemed to halt.

The glow died away.

Angeal watched as Ven slowly got to his feet, carrying Rayne's unconscious form in his arms as if she weighed nothing. Blood still stained her clothes, but the hole in her stomach was gone. He staggered slightly, but continued to move forward. He stopped only to reach down and lift up the sword by it's hilt, ignoring the crimson staining the blade.

"Where are you taking her?" Angeal dared to ask.

Ven simply whispered, "Home."

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Light…

Bright and warm, like a thousand suns. It drew her back, her body feeling lighter and whole. The ache had vanished - the endless ice that had flown through her veins like glass melting away.

As she drew breath, she felt like she was taking her first breath of life. Her fingers twitched slightly, feeling the smooth texture of cotton beneath her. The air was warm, salty in scent with hints of floral and fruit. Tropical even.

She heard sounds - first the light crashing of waves on the shore, then the cry of sea gulls, and then…

Ven…

She heard singing, the voice as delicate and soothing as the wind itself. The words he sang were familiar, ones that she would never be able to forget ever again. The haze had been lifted.

"'Look into my eyes, all eternity you will find - in this fragile heart, know that you will always belong. Shout into the night - show the darkness that you will fight. Hopeless you may feel, but inside I know you are strong.'"

Rayne slowly sat up in the bed, her bare feet pressing against the marble floor as she crossed the vast room, heading for the balcony of the dorm. She looked back and forth as she reached the doorway, the wind teasing her shaggy tresses, before slate orbs landed on him.

" 'Keep me in your heart, so we'll never be far apart. Let the bonds of love break these chains imprisoning you. Always you will find, shadows lingering close behind. Lift your spirits now, we shall be together soon…'"

She smiled before she parted her lips, singing just as he turned, those blue eyes lighting up and as brilliant as the cloudless sky above. "'When the storm draws nigh, dreams will shatter before your eyes - know that you're not alone. When the battle starts, I will comfort your restless heart - you'll know that you are home. When your stars stop shining, endless vines around you winding, know that you're not alone… I will give my all, so your tears will no longer fall, down, down on sorrow's stone."

He smiled as they both sang in harmony, "'Know that you're not alone…'"

Ven closed the distance between them, immediately enveloping her in his arms and gently twirling her. The moment her feet were back on the ground, her arms around his neck and fingers running through honey spikes, with noses barely brushing and sweet blushes on their faces, Rayne leaned in and kissed him. Ven immediately returned the kiss, having ached to feel her warm lips on his for days.

He kept hope, however, and she had finally opened her eyes.

"How am I here…?"

"I sacrificed my magic… I used every bit of it that I had and healed you. I must've broken the chains of darkness, because the moment I did, your wings they…"

"They what…?"

"They're as white as now - elegant and beautiful, like the wings of an angel." Ven replied, his tone gently as he brushed her hair behind her ear. "There's a light in your eyes, Rayne - one that wasn't there before. I still sense darkness within you, but it's…tame now. Like a gentle flame, rather than a destructive fire that would consume you. You're strong enough to keep it under control."

"And Angeal…?"

"He helped me save you. We took you to Radiant Garden - Aerith kept watch over you and continued with daily healing, to stop the Infection from spreading. It's still in your system, but its being cleanse, little by little, every day by the light within you. Angeal told Zack everything. They got into a fight - well, Zack did most of the fighting. Angeal stood there like a man and took it - though he did give Zack a nice cut on his cheek."

Rayne took his hand as they walked over to the balcony, over-looking the ocean and looking out at the main island. She looked down in awe, for once loving the feeling of the sun kissing her skin.

"Zack really did that…?"

"Angeal knows it's too late to be a father to you now, but he wants to make it up to you somehow." Ven was quiet, "I won't let him near you, right now. I haven't really let anyone see you, other than my sister…"

"How long have I been out?"

"A week."

"What did Master Eraqus say…?"

"He wasn't happy, but once I explained to him everything… he understood. Only… he's wary of you. He's requested that you and I live off-campus from now on."

Rayne looked around the unfamiliar islet, turning around and looking at the room. It was then she realized they were in an unfamiliar beach house, surrounded by exotic floral, palm trees, and there was a dock with a boat tied to it. She looked toward the right, seeing Garden on the next islet over.

"This islet belongs to Sora's godfather - Bartz is an adventurer and travels from world to world. He has plenty of my munny and treasure, and he runs and owns a Chocobo Farm near Midgar. Being cousins with Sora and Roxas, he said that we can stay here in his summer home until we graduate Garden."

"Live here… together…?"

Ven bit his lip, his cheeks pink. "If you want. Master Eraqus requested only you to live off-campus - I want to be with you, though… to protect you and -"

Rayne simply placed a finger to his lips, "Shut up, Ven. Of course I want to live together. I don't want you farther than I can protect you."

He smiled at those words, before he lifted some of hair. She nuzzled his hand, pausing a moment later as she caught sight of the strands wrapped around his fingers, raven and a silver color rather than blue.

"Your hair… it's a little different."

Rayne hurried into the house, locating the bathroom and stopping at the sight of the full-body mirror and her reflection. Her hair was layered and still slightly uneven, but the ends brushed barely against her shoulders, strands of silver throughout the raven shade and the bottom layer as silver as starlight. Her ears were slightly pointed at the tips as well, and she lifted the hem of her shirt, seeing the scar on her hip. She slowly parted her lips, brushing her fingertips against her slightly protruding incisors - resembling fangs. Biting her lip, she concentrated her power, gasping as she felt her wings emerging from her shoulder-blades. They were much smaller now, framing around her body and as white as snow with silver lining - angel's wings.

"The ears and teeth are going to take some getting used to," Rayne sighed. "Has anyone else seen me like this…?"

"No - but don't worry. Your alternate form has fallen under the class of Trance."

"Trance?"

"A powerful surge of emotion that alters a beings form - normally found in beings from Gaia. Princess Rosary's parents - Zidane and Garnet - they under go Trance - same with Rose. Only, she refuses to let us see her Trance form." Ven rubbed the back of his neck. "So long as you don't pose a threat to the others… you're fine."

"Then why is the Master having us live off-campus?"

"To protect you - someone tried to assassinate you, Ray." Ven took her hands, lifting them up and pressing gentle kisses to backs of her knuckles. "He only wants to ensure your safety. This Organization… it's bad news. Only, we just aren't sure what they want with you - all we know is they're trying to forge some weapon."

"So what's the plan then?"

"We have to find out more about the Organization."

"Who's been given the mission?"

"Us."

Rayne nodded, a faint smile crossing her lips. "With my darkness and your light… we'll be fine."

"Definitely."

She drew him close, holding him to her. Ven slowly wound his arms around her waist, feeling the soft feathers of her wings brush against his skin. Blue eyes locked onto slate a moment later, before she cupped his cheek.

"I will protect you, Ventus."

"As I will protect you, Rayne."

She bit her lip, "Then stay with me…always."

"Darkness, hell, monsters, demons… nothing will tear me away from you."

"Promise."

Their whisper was a bidding vow.

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A/N: Three more chapters! :3

-Win