Disclaimer: I do NOT own any part of Kingdom Hearts or Final Fantasy. I own nothing!

Chapter 10

Vanitas has been in the infirmary way too much lately; first with the Mark of Mastery incident and now this. However, he is patching up nicely. He didn't have to stay in the infirmary too long and the white magic is already making its way out of his system. It has done its job and he is beyond ready for it to go.

Aqua has been merciful. She understands that he and white magic don't really get along and refrains from using anymore once she is sure he is all right.

He was released from the infirmary after a day or so but was given strict orders to take it easy and to get checkups at least once a day. He was taken off active duty and placed on the reserve roster. Vanitas had been thrilled with that decision even though Aqua had prescribed one Hi-Potion a day. It's not pleasant but Hi-Potions are better than any variation of Cure.

"You're going to have a scar and be sore for a while. Like with any human injury, you'll have to ease back into strenuous activity. You can still tear something. Your wounds are healing but they aren't sturdy. White Magic can only do so much. Remember, it isn't full proof," Aqua says as she eyes the scar in question.

Vanitas goes to the nearest mirror within the infirmary and inspects his new mark. It is a thick, pink sliver about three or four inches from his heart. Turning, he can see the exit wound on his back. It mirrors the one on his chest perfectly. It is a physical reminder of what compassion had gotten him but oddly enough, he doesn't regret it. If he had it to do all over again, he would do no differently. His actions were stupid but they were genuine.

"Hey… Aqua?"

"Hmm?" she inquires, her eyes not leaving the computer screen. She is updating his file electronically. They have to log every injury, every scar, every incident; every treatment has to be documented.

"Xemnas saw…" he says lowly.

Aqua stops and looks at him quizzically. "Saw what?"

"He saw me protect Xion."

She pauses again. This time she pulls away from the screen and straightens her poster. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that could be a problem if he tells Xehanort."

"I think you're overreacting." Her big, blue eyes go back to the monitor.

"No. Think about it, Aqua." Vanitas storms up to the desk. "Xemnas will know something's…wrong with me and he'll tell Xehanort."

"I'm sure Xehanort already knows you're no longer pure darkness. He knows you've been with us. He is smart and undoubtedly knows that we've been helping you. Thus, it shouldn't be surprising to see you act selflessly."

"Were you surprised to hear that I got hurt protecting Xion?" he counters.

"Not particularly but that's because I know you have a soft sport for her. Xehanort doesn't know you anymore, Vanitas. He doesn't know your heart. He doesn't know you like we do. He doesn't know what you're capable of or what you aren't capable of. Sure, most would find it shockingly out of character for you but Xehanort can only compare you to the Vanitas he knew years ago. For all he knows, we could have made you a model citizen by now." Aqua giggles. "We haven't but he doesn't know that. They couldn't possibly know that you were showing favoritism. It could just be your new demeanor. You could've done that for anyone."

"But I wouldn't. If it was anyone else, I would have let them fall and would have just let Ventus treat them afterwards." Vanitas starts pacing in front of the computer desk.

"But they don't know that," she reiterates.

"Xehanort would and if he thinks I…"

Aqua rises to her feet, strolls around the desk, and places a compassionate hand on his shoulder. "Vanitas…"

"He could use her to get to me. I don't want Xion in harms way because of my knee jerk reaction." Vanitas pulls away from her.

"I'll talk to Master Eraqus. Hopefully, we can stop Xehanort before he has the chance to do anything to you, Ven, or even Xion." Aqua slips back into her chair behind the desk. "Meanwhile, you need to get some rest."

"Does that mean I can skip your class tomorrow?" He smirks.

She snorts playfully. "No."

Saying Vanitas took Aqua's suggestion to heart would be a major understatement. She told him to rest and rest he did. In fact, it was almost all he did. He eats, drinks, and sleeps and sometimes goes to class. To say he was milking his injury to the fullest would also be an understatement but he has no regrets. He has enjoyed this mini vacation of sorts and he had every intention of extending said vacation until someone had the nerve to come to his room and knock on his door.

It's gentle knocking and he chooses to ignore it. He is tired of all the attention he has been getting because of his injury and he was just about to doze off. He is going to hide under the covers pretend he isn't here. They will go away eventually.

"Vanitas? It's Xion. Can I come in?"

The sound of her voice changes everything and he is soon stumbling out of bed and heading towards the door. When he opens it, he is greeted by a bright eyed, and bushy tailed Xion. Unlike the last time he saw her she is rested and clean. She is in a small, black halter that barely covers her belly button and modest jean shorts. She is smiling until her eyes wander over his bare chest. She sees his scar.

Vanitas crosses his arms and his shoulders tense. He will admit he is a bit uncomfortable. He does not know why.

"It's gonna scar, isn't it?" She reaches for him. Her hand levitates over his bare chest for a moment and extends a few timid times before her fingertips finally gain the courage to ghost along the tender mark.

Vanitas shrugs. "Probably."

"I'm sorry."

He snorts. "It's not a big deal. I've got others."

"Yeah but not this bad…and none of those were my fault. I'm really sorry… That was a fight I shouldn't have started…"

"It's fine, Xion. Really. I don't care. I don't regret what I did." His tone is almost kind and they both notice.

"Really?" She looks up at him with big, puppy dog eyes and inches closer to him.

"Really," he snaps.

Blushing a bit, Xion detaches her hand from his skin and looks down at her feet.

Vanitas smirks and leans in the doorway. "So to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Oh!" She recovers quickly and that radiance in her eyes is back. "I came to take you to spar."

Vanitas laughs at her boldness. "Like hell you are."

"It's been over a week. You need to practice. Aqua said so. You'll get stiff if you don't."

"I'll practice myself." His muscles tense with irritation.

"That isn't the same and you know it. And since you can't practice with your brothers, I'm here to help you recover."

"No," he whispers playfully.

"Okay then. I guess that leaves Axel, Terra, and Kairi. Everyone else is deployed."

Vanitas sighs and his arms fall to his sides.

"So who do you want? Axel? I don't think he's busy." Xion turns on her heel, preparing to bolt down the hallway. "I'll go get hi—"

Vanitas snatches her arm and hauls her back towards him. She crashes into his chest and looks up at him coyly, knowing she has already won this battle of wits.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold up. Hold up. Let's not do anything hasty," he says.

"Well?" she probes.

Well played, my dear, he muses.

He sighs. "You drive a hard bargain, sweetheart."

Xion grins. "Good. I'll see you on the summit in an hour."

Vanitas stands there in awe. That girl… That girl is going to be the death of him.

The summit is empty, filled with nothing but lush grass, a few stone benches, and some quirky golden lampposts. Short lavender walls and gigantic, moss-covered mountain ranges surround the area. It is pretty and peaceful and Vanitas finds himself once again relieved that the Land of Departure's Academy of Mastery was small enough that it didn't have a fancy training facility like Radiant Garden. Training centers would always leave a horrible taste in his mouth and trigger nasty memories. Training centers were where Xehanort would pit him and Ventus against each other or make them fight monsters until daybreak.

He sits on a nearby stone bench and waits for Xion to show. However, it's not long before he starts getting twitchy, anxious, and ready for action. He just isn't designed for sitting down or enjoying scenery for long periods of time.

He gazes out at the mountain ranges, the waterways that flow between them, and even at the glowing Academy that can be seen below for a moment but none of it can hold his attention for long, as breathtaking as it is.

Just when he thinks he can't take anymore waiting, she arrives, dressed casually and ready to spar, but now that she's here, it hits him that he has no idea how this will go. He has never sparred or trained with Xion before.

"So how's this gonna work?" he asks as he approaches her, helping close the gap between them.

"What do you mean?" She giggles.

"Are we doing magic versus Keyblade or what?"

Xion crosses her arms defensively. "I have a Keyblade."

He snorts. "I've seen you use it…like twice."

She goes from defensive to defeated in mere seconds. She shifts from one foot to another, choosing her next words carefully. "Well, I don't really like using it…"

"Why?" It comes out instantly and curtly.

"Because…I only have it because Xemnas wanted me to and he only wanted me to have it so he could manipulate its power for himself. It's been nothing but a burden and a reminder of how I helped Xemnas try to create his own Kingdom Hearts."

Vanitas twitches at that word. "Xemnas was obsessed with that too?"

Xion nods. "We never really knew why though but anyone that has ever wanted anything to do with Kingdom Hearts usually has their own strange motive for seeking it out, some world domination trip… You know, since it supposedly leads to unfathomable wisdom or power."

Vanitas looks away.

"Did… Did I say something wrong?" she asks softly, apprehensively.

He can only stare at the ground blankly as all of Xehanort's ravings swarm around in his head to the point that his vision almost blurs.

"Vanitas?" Xion touches his arm.

Eventually, he pushes the thoughts away with a shake of his head and looks down at her.

"I triggered something… I'm sorry. I didn't know that was one of your triggers," she whispers, her hand lingering on his arm.

"Let's just say that Xemnas and Master Xehanort have a lot in common." He shrugs off her touch and takes a few steps away from her.

"Well, it's pretty safe to assume that they've been working together for the same goal since the beginning."

"Yeah, Kingdom Hearts," he scoffs, the word hanging heavy on his tongue. He hates it. He hates everything about it. He wishes that this supposed heart of all things did not exist at all. It has done nothing but fuel man's madness. If it didn't exist, Xehanort wouldn't have wanted the χ-blade and if he hadn't wanted the χ-blade, he wouldn't have done those experiments on him and Ventus to turn them into pure light and pure darkness…

"I didn't come here to rehash the past, especially since it hasn't been particularly kind to either of us but to answer your question, I don't like using my Keyblade because it's just a reminder of my mistakes and my foolishness. And since it isn't necessary for my classification as a Black Mage, I don't have to use it, so I don't." She shrugs. "But I'll use it today to help get you back into shape."

Vanitas frowns and rolls his eyes. "I'm not out of shape."

"I know you haven't been training like you should. You've been cooped up in your room, using your recovery as an excuse to be lazy."

If his jaw were capable of literally hitting the floor, it would have. How could she be so bold while still being so meek? She truly was a conundrum.

"I'll show you lazy," he growls lowly and summons his Keyblade.

Smiling, Xion does the same.

Her Keyblade is a unique looking thing, all silver, black, and white. It's slightly curved with a notched blade (that was not unlike Riku's Keyblade) with noticeably sharp edges. Thorns made up the blades black and white teeth and the handle had a little checkerboard pattern going on.

"You know, this isn't really fair," he says smugly and begins circling her as if she is his prey.

"How is it not fair?" she reels, sounding slightly irked and offended.

"Because, you are no match for me physically."

Xion rolls her eyes. "Are you always this cocky?"

"Yes."

Xion lunges at him and he dodges effortlessly, causing her to stumble a bit. She staggers only for a moment before striking again only to have him dart out of the way once more.

"What are you doing?" she asks breathlessly.

"Evading."

"Why?" Xion challenges, looking a bit offended by his strategy.

He shrugs.

Xion is clearly confused but continues trying to land a few blows. However, this has just become a game and Vanitas continues to bob and weave through her attacks without so much as thinking of lifting his Keyblade.

"Stop it!" she howls, almost laughing but her frustration is still evident.

"Stop what?" Vanitas is grinning shamelessly now.

"This!" Xion stops her assault, straightens her posture, and points a condescending finger at him and his movements.

"I don't know what you're complaining about. Dodging is a very important battle technique."

"Yes, when it's necessary."

"You're attacking, so I deem the technique necessary."

Xion frowns briefly before smirking and just as he realizes he is in trouble, there is no time to react. She points her Keyblade at him and blasts him with Thunder. It doesn't hurt but she does nail him and it does sting a bit as it wriggles though him, using his bones as conductors. Normally, he would be furious at someone for shocking him but for some reason, he starts laughing. He's not snickering or faking it either. He is genuinely laughing.

Vanitas holds his hands up in mock surrender. "Okay. Okay, you win! I won't dodge anymore."

The corners of Xion's mouth curve upward with triumph as she folds her arms, basking in her victory.

Her eyes meet his and she realizes he is smiling, fully, genuinely. It's a real smile, one that actually reaches his golden eyes and it's staggering. It is a lovely smile without the faintest touch of malevolence and it warms her to the core.

She realizes she is smiling wholeheartedly too and then she is hit by cold, hard realization. She knows this feeling, this warmth…this downright giddiness. Xion recognizes this sensation fluttering around in her sternum like an oversized butterfly and her smile falls as if someone has poured a bucket of ice water over her head.

It is not necessarily new. It is different but not completely new. She has liked boys before. She has had crushes before. She liked Roxas for a while before realizing she loved him as brother and she briefly had the hots for Riku shortly after transferring to the Land of Departure. Then, of course Ventus came into her life. Basically, she knows when she is on the verge of liking someone and she likes Vanitas. She likes Vanitas and she has liked him for a while. She likes him more than she cares to admit and far more than is acceptable.

Suddenly, she feels disarmed and painfully uncomfortable. She has to diffuse this somehow. She likes Vanitas and she can't like Vanitas.

Life has a strange way of reverting back to normal after fluctuations of chaos and that is exactly what happened after Vanitas completely recovered. After their last sparing session, Xion went back to her friends. She went back to going on missions with her usual crew and spent all her free time with Roxas and Axel. The strange circumstances that had forced them together faded away and now they are back in their separate worlds.

Vanitas has come to the conclusion that he has been a fool these past few months. He thought she really and truly cared. He thought they had something that went beyond obligation. Obviously not. She ditched him as soon as she got the chance.

For some unknown reason, he feels rejected and Vanitas can't handle rejection, probably because it never really happens to him. As a result, he is back to being a major pain in the ass. There really is something to that old saying. Misery really does love company and he is miserable because he misses Xion.

Missing her had been an annoying, persistent surprise. To add insult to injury, he misses her a lot. The time apart has made him realize how much he doesn't like being without her, how he doesn't want to be without her. He selfishly and guiltlessly wants her all to himself, but he can't have her and that is infuriating.

It isn't fair but when has life ever been fair to him? Never. He has been dealt one bad hand after another so why would something like this be any different? It wouldn't be, so he tries to steel himself and forget about the whole Xion fiasco. He tries to put his walls back up and go back to living on the outside, away from everyone else, back into the shadow where he belongs. He was a complete fool for leaving the shadows to search for something more in the first place.

As always, Aqua lecture is too long and super boring. He can't get out fast enough even though he has no other plans for afterward other than to go back to his room and power nap.

He is almost halfway to his room when he realizes he left his book in her classroom. Normally, he could give a shit but Aqua would know it was his and would bitch about him leaving it the next time he saw her and that is something he really wants to avoid.

Begrudgingly, he turns around and heads back to Aqua's classroom. He reaches the door and is about to bust back in when he hears Aqua's voice.

"How is Xion? I haven't seen her around lately."

Vanitas can't keep his ears from perking. He just knew he was going to hear some bullshit about missions or training but this is much more interesting. It has potential so he backs away from the door, leans against the wall, and listens.

Ventus sighs. "Good, I guess but she's…distant. I've barely seen her since out last mission together and when I do see her, it's like she can't get away from me fast enough. I don't think she's happy with me. It's like, there's a wall there that I just can't get past."

"Xion has a complicated past. It's not surprising that she's a bit guarded. She probably just needs some time."

"I don't know. I used to think so too but the more time I spend with her, the more I think she'll never open up to me like that." Ventus pauses and he can hear his feet shuffling around. "She loves me…but she isn't in love with me."

"It's a little early to be talking about love, isn't it?" Terra's distinct voice reverberates off the walls.

"You know what I mean. You knew you had a shot with Aqua, right? You could tell she was emotionally invested and willing to give the relationship a genuine, wholehearted try. You knew it would happen eventually if things went well. With Xion it's like something is holding her back and it's just getting worse."

There is pain in his brother's voice, something Vanitas doesn't hear often. Ventus is usually nothing but a big bursting ball of joyful energy so he must really believe what he says and must really be hurt.

Vanitas is intrigued. For once, Ventus must not be as dense as he thought. Apparently, even he could catch onto something like this and if he could pick up on it, then it must be true.

"Still, you can't base it off us. We had a completely different situation," Aqua interjects politely, forever the optimist.

"Maybe…" Ventus replies lowly, sounding far from convinced.

The trio exchanges a few more words of encouragement and eventually, they disperse. Ventus leaves the room and enters the hallway first with Terra following closely behind. Upon seeing his brother, his blonde brow creases and his eyes narrow slightly.

"Vanitas?"

"I left my book. I came back to get it but I couldn't bring myself to break up your little…heart to heart." Vanitas smirks, knowing full well he is acting like a jackass.

"You were listening?" Ventus' face flushes.

Vanitas shrugs. "I only picked up bits and pieces."

Ventus stares at him for a long moment, clearly trying to decide if he is upset or not but eventually chooses indifference.

"Whatever you heard…would you mind keeping it to yourself?"

Vanitas pulls himself from the wall and feigns compassion. "Brother dear, who would I tell? You and I both know I don't have any friends. Isn't that right, Terra?"

Terra's dark blue eyes narrow and that dark look flashes across his face. Briefly Vanitas wonders if his precious Aqua knows just how deep Terra's darkness runs. Surely she senses it. Terra is no saint, a good man at heart but not a saint. Vanitas has seen that legendary temper of his several times and as he sees that dark look on his face now, finds himself wondering if he is about to see it again.

"That's right," Terra muses as he brushes past him and barrels down the hallway with Ventus hesitantly following on his heels.

Vanitas decides to imitate a gentleman and keep his word. He will not breathe a word of what he heard to anyone but that doesn't mean he can't confront Xion about this little issue.

He has to be sure. He has to do everything in his power so he can't look back one day and wonder what if he had done things differently. He isn't ready to go back to the shadows just yet, not when he hasn't done everything he could, not when there is some microscopic fragment of a chance left. He's not ready to let her go. He's not just going to let go of the first thing in years to give him some semblance of happiness. He's not giving this up without a fight and he might not even give it up then.

Xion has come to the conclusion that she is a coward. Since she realized she has been nursing some pretty powerful feelings for Vanitas, she has been hiding from him and Ventus. She sticks to her close circle of friends and does not venture outside of it. She has even been avoiding Aqua and Terra because they are just too close to Ven. It just isn't safe and frankly, she doesn't trust herself or her feelings anymore. Not to mention she is ashamed of herself.

In short, she is just a mess.

What she would give for a time machine so she could just go back and pinpoint where everything started spiraling out of control. She might even settle for a pause button so she could have a moment to think and come up with some ingenious solution to her mounting problems.

She's wearing her feelings. Everyone knows something is wrong with her but they don't really probe or push for answers and for that she is grateful.

Naminé walks quietly next to her as they make their way back to their room. After class, the blonde asks her typical routine of questions to make sure she isn't mentally unhinged or in need of therapy but pushed no further. She then went on to tell her about Sora and Riku's latest antics.

Xion listens intently but adds very little to the conversation. They round a corner to the next hall and the instant they do, a shadow lunges from the wall towards them.

"Hey."

Xion jolts out of her skin, jumps back, and places a hand over her frantic heart as Naminé yelps and cowers behind her.

The shadow now had black hair and golden eyes. This shadow had apparently been waiting in this corridor for her.

"Don't do that!" Xion chides softly as she tries to recover from the scare. Poor Naminé is still clinging to her uniform.

Vanitas places his hands in his pockets and smirks but doesn't apologize. "You got a minute?"

Xion shifts uncomfortably and exchanges silent glances with Naminé. The blonde shakes her head, quietly insisting that it is a bad idea and Xion agrees. Alarms are ringing loudly inside her head but she can't think up an excuse or a good lie. She has no reason to say no…

"Uh, sure," Xion replies and turns to Naminé and extends her books toward her. "Would you mind taking these to my desk? I'll be there in a minute"

Naminé hesitates and Xion can see her contemplating something but she never follows through with it. She merely gives them a cautionary look and nods.

"Alright," she says as she takes her books from her. "I'll see you later then. Bye, Vanitas."

He waves and the White Mage disappears into their room.

Once she is safely inside, Xion folds her arms uncomfortably and squares up with Vanitas. To her surprise, he is actually in his uniform. Granted, his red button up is not buttoned all the way and his black tie is loose around his neck but the fact that he got into his uniform at all is impressive.

"What's going on?" she inquires, her mouth curving upward a bit. That damn oversized butterfly is back in her chest and she is coarsely reminded of why she has been avoiding him like plague.

"Can we talk somewhere"—he glances around the hallway—"more private?"

Xion's heart plummets and her skin blanches. "…I guess."

Taking her vague answer as consent, he snatches her by the curve of her elbow and almost literally drags her out of the Academy to the summit. It's after class hours so all the training that sometimes occurs here has ceased for the day, leaving them with the privacy Vanitas asked for.

Gently, Xion pulls her elbow from his grip and takes a few steps away from him, crossing her arms over her chest to ward off the late afternoon chill in the air. "So what did you want to talk about?"

"You, me, and Ventus."

Xion pales. "I really don't think that's…"

"Just…hear me out," he interrupts and takes a step towards her, which prompts her to take a step back and narrow her eyes suspiciously.

"I like you," he blurts out fearlessly, going right for the jugular.

Xion's eyes widen and she shakes her head. "Don't…"

"I do. I like you, a lot, as stupid and as impossible as that is. You look at me differently. You treat me like a person..." He trails off, suddenly very aware of how much he is saying and how much he sounds like a sap.

She stares at him for a long moment, her eyes full of emotions he can't discern.

"And you like me too," he says matter-of-factly.

"I-I care about you, Vanitas…" she admits, her tone soft and sincere but timid.

"That's not what I meant."

"I know what you meant but I'm with Ven." She tries to walk away but he grabs her by her elbow again and pulls her back.

"You don't want him," He states. He doesn't ask. "Not really."

"Let me go, Vanitas," she says politely despite the uncomfortable grip he has on her arm.

"You don't. That's why you come to me. You wouldn't look at me the way you do if you did. You wouldn't hesitate if you did. You just hold onto him because you know he is something you should have. He makes sense but at the end of the day, you don't want him."

Xion looks away.

"You're hurting me," she whispers when the desperate grip he has on her arms tightens until it's painful.

"You're hurting me," he retorts curtly.

Her eyes go wide and she looks back at him. "Vanitas…"

He doesn't say anything else. He just stares at her. His gaze is so deep and intense she feels like he is almost looking through her and into her soul.

Xion sighs. "I care about you, Vanitas. A lot but that is exactly why I can't do this. I don't know what kind of person you think I am, but I am not this person. I'm not going to put myself in this situation. I won't come between two brothers. I'm not doing the whole love triangle thing. I'm not."

"Don't call it that…" Vanitas actually looks wounded for a split second.

"That's what it is," she says tersely.

"It's only a love triangle if you're—"

"That's what it is!" she shouts and Vanitas recoils, genuinely taken back by her response.

"I won't do this to myself, Ventus, or even you. I'm sorry." She gently pries his hands off her elbow.

"Xion," he calls.

She shakes her head and begins walking away.

"Xion," Vanitas repeats more sternly and chases after her.

The Black Mage turns and glares at him, effectively freezing him in place with her gaze. "No."

"Don't be ridiculous—"

"Please," she snaps, taking a few steps back. "I mean it."

Xion tries her best to sound coarse and stern but her voice fails her and cracks at the last moment, revealing how upset and overwhelmed she is. She's shaking, fighting tears she didn't know were trying to bubble their way up out of her.

That wounded, disarmed look flashes across his face again and it almost breaks her, so she turns her back on him and walks away, knowing that if she held his gaze, she would break and he would win. She would fall into that trap she is oh so close to, the trap she is desperately trying to avoid. She would end up in his arms, looking up at him sappily with bedroom eyes, silently begging for his affection because a part of her wants just that. A part of her wants to turn around and apologize and tell him how she feels, to just let him sink his hooks even farther into her but she can't do that. That would be wrong and no good could ever come of that.

A/N: Thanks so much for reading and reviewing!

I apologize for the delay but it took me a while to find my muse and to get this chapter the way I wanted. I usually don't write stuff like this where there is a bit of a love triangle and all that jazz. I've dabbled but never like this so I've been pretty eh about it but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. However, it isn't about me. It's about you guys! So hopefully you guys liked it. That's what matters and that's what I'm going for!

Also, I took some liberties with Xion's Keyblade. I know that in 358 days her Keyblades are identical to Roxas' (and some of Sora's), but for the sake of individuality, I have equipped her with Two Become One. I don't really have any solid reasoning for my decision other than it was in 358 days and I think that it suits her. Eh.

Next time more sh*t is going to hit the fan! Xion has a difficult talk with Ven and there might even be some K-I-S-S-I-N-G! But who is going to be kissing whom?

Thanks again for reading and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!