Chapter 11

A Promise

Terra was almost done making breakfast when he heard the steady beat of hooves galloping towards the small hut. Roxas and Ventus were outside, Ventus cheering loudly and shrieking with joy. The happy cries were quickly drowned over by Roxas's horrified yells, Terra immediately dropping the stirring spoon in his hand and rushing outside. Eraqus was already off the horse, carefully attempting to lift Axel's unconscious body from their mare. Jogging to his father's side, Terra helped him carry Axel into the hut. "What happened?" he asked hurriedly, strain evident in his voice.

"In a moment Terra," Eraqus muttered, ducking to avoid hitting the low entrance. Carefully maneuvering around the small cooking pot, they took Axel to a spare grass mat and laid him there. Straightening up, Eraqus turned towards his sons. "Terra, bring me some water. Roxas go and fetch the medical herbs in your supplies."

Terra paused; he hadn't noticed his brother following him into the house. Roxas stood hesitantly at the door, eyes only on Axel and his face growing paler with every moment he had to gaze upon his friends open wounds. Eraqus cleared his throat. "Now would be nice boys."

Startled, Terra nodded, scrambling to his feet to find the small bucket they kept water in. By the time he returned, Roxas was already there, frantically spreading out the herbs and picking out the ones he needed before treating his friend. Eraqus took the bucket from Terra, gently lifting Axel's head and pressing the ladle of water towards lips until he drank. Rising to his feet, Eraqus quietly led Terra out of the room, bringing him outside. "I suppose I owe you an explanation?"

"I suppose," Terra retorted softly, unable to bring his original hate up to the surface of his being anymore. Axel's awful appearance had knocked the animosity out him. "What happened?"

"It…I think he could explain his injuries better than I—at least how it happened. I'm not sure what happened, but I have an idea." Eraqus cleared his throat. "First of all, I should probably inform you that we no longer have a house. Xehanort burnt it down, with the help of his assistant."

His knees felt weak. Leaning back against the hut, Terra closed his eyes. "Nothing could be saved?"

"Only a few things could probably be salvaged, I believe. We were confronted by Xehanort as I expected—we did not expect his assistant to be so…cunning. While I was preoccupied with Xehanort, Axel went after the other, whom had taken refuge into our home. Halfway through our fight, I realized that Axel's flames weren't under control and he wasn't stopping either. Xehanort stepped away and I knew something was wrong—we'd been tricked."

"Axel burnt down our house." Terra finished glumly.

Eraqus smiled weakly. "Not with ill-intention, I believe. However, as to how he lost control of his fire is something you'd need to ask him. I found him unconscious in the house."

"What do they want, revenge?"

Eraqus sighed, shaking his head. "I don't think so—not for the assistant at least. Xehanort I could understand wanting revenge but the other has no motives. Some people just want to see the world burn, perhaps."

Silence fell between them, interrupted only by the ocean breeze and the lapping waves in the distance. "Where is Vanitas and Sora?" Eraqus murmured.

"By the water," Terra replied quietly. "Sora convinced him to make a sand-castle. He still won't talk to me."

"Are you sure he is the one refusing to speak?"

Terra didn't reply immediately.

"Do you think Roxas will be alright?"

"Axel is the best friend he has Terra," Eraqus responded gently. "How would you react if someone had brought Tifa or Zack into the house unconscious and hurt?"

Aqua sat at under the bridge, toes occasionally dipping into the water as she watched the rivers flow. Yen Sid took a seat beside her, silent.

"I should have been here." She murmured, her thumb absently rubbing against the small blue bead adorning the bracelet Terra had given her the day they met. The soot on her hands smeared the stone. "I should have been here."

"There would have been nothing you could have done—"

"I should have been here—"

"It was completely out of your hands Aqua, you were still unconscious."

"I could have done something."

"They are still alive."

"But at what cost Master Yen Sid," She interrupted loudly, half wailed as she fell into a state of internal despair. "I have no idea where he is, what happened to his family, if they are injured and worst of all, regardless of whether they are alive, where will they live now? Their house is gone! Of all people, I understand what that is like. The town is empty—I can't ask for their whereabouts."

Aqua buried her face into her knees, ignoring the uncomfortable pressure it placed on her forehead. "I don't know what to do."

Yen Sid stood, one of long tails brushing over hers in a subtle manner of gathering her attention. "The humans have a saying for when one of their own is feeling depressed."

"I don't want to know right now."

He ignored her. "You're only human."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Aqua whispered. "I'm a Kitsune, almost an adult of my kind. We are supposed to be wise, all knowing, and ethereal. We are not supposed to make mistakes, especially of this caliber; I should have known there was a trap. I should have been able to sense it or at the least, escape it. I don't understand."

"You may not be human, but you are still young Aqua." Yen Sid began calmly. "Even the oldest of our kind still make mistakes. As for the trap, it's not your fault. It was a humanized trap with an infused spell. I remember that kind of magic and I assure you that even I would not have been able to detect it. Escaping that trickery would be almost impossible without help; you were fortunate that Terra and Axel were nearby."

"What should I do?"

"You've always been very smart Aqua but you still expect to be told what to do. For once, make your own decisions about the future. What does your heart tell you to do?"

"Vanitas, you should come inside. Breakfast is ready." Terra bent down to his brother's height, peering over the dark hair and into his golden eyes. Vanitas shrugged, starring absently at the sea. Terra sighed. "Come on; even Sora is going. See, he's already halfway back to the hut."

"I'm not hungry."

"You haven't been hungry for three days now Van, you need to eat something eventually." Terra grunted, falling into the sand beside him. "What's wrong?"

"I'm just not hungry."

"Look Van, I know you're not happy to be here—none of us are—but it's not an excuse to sit out here and waste away."

"I hate this family."

"I'm sure you do."

"I hate you. I hate this place."

"I figured that out on the way here when you tried to run away for the third time in a row." Terra answered, amused. "Are you going to tell me why you hate us or will you come inside and eat?"

Vanitas refused to answer. Sighing again, Terra nudged his brother lightly. "Dad is here; he'll worry if he sees you out here in the cold. It's not exactly an ideal beach day."

Vanitas shuffled uncomfortably. "Do…you ever think about it? The day she died."

Terra frowned. "Of course I do. I still remember it clearly. Is that what's bothering you? It wasn't your fault, you know. She was our mom; her job was to make sure we were safe."

"Don't you wish there was something we could have done though?"

"Always"

"Then why did you leave?" Vanitas began, drawing small figures into the sand with his fingers. "You have the chance to do the same with her and all you're doing is causing her trouble. She could die because of you and you don't realize it. Doesn't that make you worse than me?"

Terra frowned. "Is this really about me or is this your way of acting like you're alright?"

"Does it matter?"

"Look…Vanitas. First of all, it wasn't your fault. That was four years ago, you were nine. There was nothing we could do. You were always a stubborn kid, but believe me; mom did not have that running through her mind when she ran into the ocean to save you. Second of all, mom loved us more than anything, end of story. Thirdly, Aqua is not a part of this and even if she were Aqua is smart enough to avoid going head first into a suicide mission."

Getting to his feet, Terra yanked his brother up. "Now quit your pity-party and come inside with me. You're just being a brat now."

"Says the one who's yanking his little brother home against his will," complained Vanitas, clearly still annoyed. "You're awful."

"You need a new insult; you've said to me at least six times a day since we've gotten here."

"Obviously it hasn't sunken in yet," he muttered as the passed through the door. Ignoring Roxas and Axel at the far end of the room, he marched over, took his breakfast and went outside again. Terra approached his brother, lightly touching his shoulder before realizing that Roxas was fast asleep. Eraqus, whom stood silently nearby, motioned towards Axel with a slight nod. Axel was awake.

"What? No pretty princesses to give me my 'you're-alive' kiss?" Axel teased hoarsely, a crooked smile already forming on his features. "Or are you volunteering Terra?"

Terra rolled his eyes. "Moron; aren't you at least going to ask what happened?"

"Oh no, I remember that," Axel grumbled, head rolling to the side, eyes widening upon noticing Roxas. Smiling tiredly, he summoned up the strength to lift an arm and pat the blond on the head. Roxas mumbled in his sleep, moving and shifting on the grass matt. "He's too good of a kid."

"The rest of my sons make me wonder what I did wrong with the eldest two," Eraqus sighed tragically. "How are you feeling Axel?"

"Like I have a hundred paper cuts and was tossed into a crate of sand," Axel bemoaned quietly. "I'll live though…Terra."

"Yeah?"

"You're going back—I know you will, don't give me that look. Aqua is going to be looking for you too. You two are ridiculous," Axel coughed. "I'm going to let you know what happened but you need to promise me something at the end."

"I just want to know what happened Axel," Terra insisted. "He burnt down my house—"

"I burnt down your house," Axel corrected tiredly.

"It wasn't your fault—"

"My flames—your house—same difference." Axel sighed. "I…I'm sorry. I underestimated the situation. His accomplice is someone I know—Xigbar. He was another banished Kitsune. We thought he was dead. I guess they never checked up on his whereabouts after the banishment."

Axel shifted uncomfortably, accidently waking Roxas in the process. Crying out happily, Roxas was about to reach out when he hesitated and opted to smack Axel upside the head instead. "You're so stupid!" he cried out angrily, repeating the aggressive motion. "Why do you always have to stick your nose in other people's business?"

Laughing, Axel winced under the weak blows. "Roxas, I would really appreciate it if you brought me something to eat instead."

"You should starve."

"I love you too sweetheart. Please Roxas—food. I need it desperately. Water too."

Rolling his eyes, Roxas flicked his friend on the forehead before rising to his feet and leaving the room. Terra slumped slightly. "You were saying?"

"Xigbar," Axel continued. "He was banished for doing what he wanted—he was one of the reasons we received a bad name. Xigbar specializes in teleportation spells. He was originally a renowned magic user but now, he's nothing more than a teleporting menace. He would relocate my flames across the house. Once the bond between the fire and the user is cut, I don't have control over what it does."

"You said he was a renowned magic user? What happened?"

"In true Kitsune, our magic comes from our tails. In the case of a half breed like myself, my magic comes from my heart; the stronger the heart, the stronger the magic. If you manage to cut off his tail, he won't be able to bother you anymore." Axel sighed tiredly, eyes closing again. "Xehanort cannot be allowed to live—he's out to hurt the entire town. I warned the villagers to leave beforehand but I highly doubt he's left. Terra—you promised you would do me a favor."

"Yes?"

"My brothers," Axel choked out, succumbing to a coughing spell. Eyes watering, he cleared his throat. "I couldn't get them out in time. They're stuck in town with my almost-comatose mom. She won't get up unless someone forces her and they won't leave without her. I need you to promise me you'll get them out safely."

"On my life."

Axel laughed, head resting back again as Roxas returned from the other room carrying a small bowl of soup. "Careful what you say Terra; I'm sure Aqua wouldn't be too happy to hear you say something like that."

I am sooo sorry for the wait. Lists of priorities include grades, work, and health. Mostly health. Currently recovering from the flu and stomach flu, for example. And as a side note, we are officially (roughly) four chapters from the end!

I'm a horrible person, I know. I didn't have a large amount of time to edit this so please, if you see any errors feel free to message me as I am currently in Finals week and am stressing about the importance of math in my life.