The whole group was walking out of the forest back to where Kairi and Vantias stayed in the inn.

"Oh hey Aqua! I wanted to ask you a question, ummm… what the Lost Boys?" Kairi asked with Aqua turning around shocked.

"Where did you hear that?" Aqua asked going up to Kairi Vantias and Ven were up ahead not talking to each other.

"I…ummm well when me and Vantias were staying in an inn I saw a bag of marbles that labeled Lost Boys on it" Kairi said fidgeting with her fingers looking to the side wondering if Aqua was mad at her.

Ven looked back glancing at Kairi then ahead grumbling words.

"I've been looking for that bag of marbles for the boys!" Aqua said hugging Kairi making her squeak in surprise.

"Do you have it?" Aqua asked with Kairi nodding smiling.

"Yeah! It's in my pouch-"Kairi stopped her eyes widened when she only found an elixir that Vantias gave her.

"What? W-what I know it's in here somewhere?" Kairi said to herself digging through her pouch trying to look for it panicking.

"I left it back in the room!" Kairi cried holding her face with her hands in a frantic matter with Aqua laughing half heartedly patting Kairi on the shoulder.

"Its fine will just go back there to pick it up" Aqua said walking up to Vantias and Ven with Kairi who was worried out of her mind.

Along the way Ven kept at Kairi's side eyeing Vantias like a hawk almost touching her side with how close he was.

Kairi had no clue and was oblivious to his actions until he brushed her lower arm with his knuckles causing her to look up at him surprised.

"What, what are you doing?" Kairi asked with Vantias turning to look at both of them then ahead sighing.

"Sorry" Ven mumbled looking ahead avoiding eye contact with Kairi inhaling some air through his nose tensing up.

"Umm…okay?" Kairi said lifting her brow looking up ahead to see the inn come into view having a wave of relief wash over her smiling.

"There! The inn is over there" Kairi said running up not seeing a neo shadow come in to jump attack her from the roof.

"Kairi!" both Ven and Vantias yelled with Aqua gasping.

"Huh? Ahh!" Kairi cried closing her eyes preparing for the worst to come.

Everything was pitch black and quiet.

"Am I dead?" Kairi asked herself hearing an echo then a low chuckle.

"Who's there?" Kairi yelled out slashing out her arm but no key blade appeared with her gasping in surprise.

"Your powers don't work here…this is my world" the mysterious voice said sending chills down Kairi's spine.

"What do you want with me?" Kairi yelled out hearing her voice echo back.

"It's not you that I want it's something that you have that I want" the voice said with Kairi stepping back in fear closing her eyes.

"…What?" Kairi said barely a whisper shutting her eyes tightly clenching her fists.

"Your heart" the voice said coldly with his words echoing in Kairi's mind causing her to open her eyes seeing a man in front of her with golden eyes.

Kairi's body went all numb and cold her blood stopped in her veins looking down seeing her hands shake.

"…Why?" Kairi asked still having her hands shake and her voice was shaking.

"Because your heart is the purest after all you are the "princess of heart" and it would complete my Kingdom Hearts" the man said pointing to a giant heart in the sky that now appeared.

"No…no why me? M-my heart?" Kairi said her voice cracking stepping back shaking her head with tears daring to spill down her face.

"I'm sorry but it's the truth and it's not your choice…now give me your heart" the old man said chuckling reaching his hand out for her to take it smiling a wicked smile.

"No!" Kairi cried throwing her arm out seeing droplets of water appear on the dirt ground having the whole world sway in front of her stumbling back almost losing her balance.

"Why does it always have to end like this?" the man asked sarcastically himself rolling his eyes.

Kairi was about to run when she felt vines wrap around her leg from the earth pulling her down creeping up on her body.

"I knew you were gonna run so I was prepared" the man said walking up looking down at Kairi who was now entirely covered with the vines only leaving space for her eyes that were darting around in fear.

Kairi shut her eyes in fear her scream muffled from the vines until she saw a white glow appear in front of her eyes.

"K-Kairi Kairi" a voice said over and over again becoming louder echoing.

"Kairi!" a voice yelled shaking her body with Ven looking down at her still unconscious with scratch marks on her cheek bleeding.

"Kairi!" yelled Ven with Kairi waking up looking dazed looking at Vantias and Aqua who were still worried with Vantias looking down at Kairi with relief and blush.

"Kairi don't ever do that…you had me worried, I thought you were dead" Ven said picking up Kairi gently hugging her tightly almost crying.

"Oh…I'm sorry" Kairi said feeling guilty touching his back smiling.

Vantias turned away looking to the side furrowing his brows and then at Ven frowning.

Aqua noticed this with a questioning look lifting a brow and then at Kairi shaking her head smiling.

"Boy's" she said in her head still smiling.

XX

Night fall- Cottage

The day had fallen to nightfall with the cool night air blowing the branches in a small breeze.

The group had settled in the cottage again, both Ven and Vantias as usual sat on the opposite sides of the room. Vantias would look down and then back up looking at Ven who would growl and walk up to Kairi very protectively who was oblivious.

Vantias breathed in a deep breath his chest rising rolling his eyes.

When Aqua had gotten the keys for the two rooms Kairi was going to open the door when she saw a hand grab the door knob looking up she was pushed aside by Vantias who walked in grumbling and Aqua calling Ven in who looked at Kairi smiling coming over to hug her brushing his bangs on the side of her cheek tickling her. "Night Kai" Ven smiled pulling back his eyes glistening blushing reminding her of Sora again making her smile sadly looking down chuckling.

"You remind me so much of…him" Kairi said before giving Ven a quick hug before walking back inside leaving Ven curious before brushing his bangs and walking into his room.

Kairi locked the door seeing Vantias sitting on the bed of the right side of the room with his eyes closed frowning as usual his helmet off propped up on the night stand.

"What was that about?" Kairi asked unbuckling her belt throwing it on the nearby chair with Vantias opening his eyes shooting Kairi a glare.

Kairi rolled her eyes sighing brushing a hand through her hair "What the silent treatment?" Kairi asked turning around to look in the mirror frowning when she saw scratches and minor cuts on her right cheek. Not noticing that Vantias got up walking up towards Kairi who was frowning puffing up her cheeks which were becoming a rosy pink. "You're always mad, and you never smile" Kairi said mumbling as she turned around huffing putting her hands on her hips.

Vantias glared at Kairi sitting on the foot of the bed staring at her but it looked more like he was glaring.

Vantias was about to tell Kairi that he was worried for her own sake earlier.

"You're such a little kid!" barked Vantias slamming his fist down on the bed sheets causing Kairi to flinch until anger washed over her causing her to frown.

"See! You always have to get mad at every little thing! I've told you before I'm not a little girl I can do fine on myself" yelled Kairi feeling her face flush.

Vantias looked to the side before frowning "no you can't, you're just a little brat and cry baby to me… I don't know why I had a soft spot for you" Vantias said coldly before walking past Kairi slamming the bathroom door closed and the sound of water turning on.

Kairi looked at the door before feeling warm tears trickle down her face.

His words echoed in her head "I don't know why I had a soft spot for you" his words stung her like venom causing her to look down her bangs covering half of her face as tears dropped to the ground causing wet spots to appear on the rug.

"Don't let it get to you Kairi…" she said before wiping the tears with her hand walking out of the room closing the door.

XX

Ven sat on his bed staring at the ceiling blankly before his mind drifted off to Kairi blushing as his lips went down into a frown shaking his head of such thoughts.

Ven rolled over his arm hanging over the bed sighing "stop thinking about her Ven…your just protecting her" Ven said to himself before getting up to walk out of the room.

Ven walked through the hallway casually his hands stuffed in his pockets counting the random dot designs on the wallpaper.

Ven stopped as he felt the cool night breeze from a cracked door noticing a girl sitting on the balcony.

"Hey miss…umm I don't think that's umm-"Ven stopped in mid sentence as the person turned around.

Kairi turned around smiling softly "hey Ven" she said softly before turning around to look up at the sky.

Ven walked over propping his arms on the balcony "why are you here?" Ven asked turning to Kairi looking at her.

"I just wanted to enjoy my own company and watch the stars" Kairi said shrugging her shoulders her hands folded together.

"Hmmm" Ven said studying her face looking at her eyes that were puffy and red.

Kairi looked at him feeling self-conscious that he was staring at her stuttering on her words as she spoke.

"I-Is there something on my face?" Kairi asked with Ven shaking his head smirking while his eyes were closed causing her to blush a light pink.

"You were crying out here, weren't you?" Ven stated seeing Kairi's eyes widened as she looked down feeling her lips tremble feeling warm tears drop down onto her skirt.

"You can't hide your feelings from me Kairi" he said hopping onto the balcony next to her.

Ven looked at Kairi with sadness his heart aching to see her cry.

He looked at her before taking her hands into his with her facing him her eyes were watery as tears trickled down.

"Did Vantias do this to you?" he asked silently his voice unusually calm feeling anger build up inside him.

Kairi looked down turning away trying to avoid eye contact with him.

Ven looked down feeling his lips go down into a frown as his eyebrows twitched Ven hopped off walking away until he heard Kairi's voice.

"If your gonna do what I think your gonna do, don't it's not worth it it's just selfish…" Kairi's hoarse voice called out with her wiping away hot tears.

Ven stopped in his tracks looking down.

he looked back putting a smile on his face "I won't" he said but those words felt empty to her as he walked off not noticing the grim look he had on his face his eye color was darker.