I can still feel it. That electricity radiating off her body. Like a moth to flame, I can't stay away. I stand beside Xion's sleeping form, still trying to decide if I should feed on her. Just being near her sends those delicious electric waves my way. I have to taste them. I lean over her, staring at her face. Suddenly I feel sick, like I shouldn't be here, shouldn't be thinking of using her this way. How strange the heart is. Steers us wrong every time. I gently kiss her forehead, resisting the urge to indulge myself. I stand straight, "It seems there's still a shred of humanity in me."


"Vanitas?" my brother's voice wakes me and I open my eyes slightly, "What, Sora?"

"Mom wanted to know if you were going to eat breakfast with us.. You're probably tired though.. Seeing as you didn't come home until a few hours ago," he replies.

I narrow my eyes at him and he stiffens, "Larxene saw you sneak in."

I groan and pull the covers over my head, "Tell them I said no."

"Right.." he quickly leaves. I frown, Is he afraid of me? I finally come out of my room around dinner time to find Roxas and Ventus arguing over a video game and Larxene's reading a magazine on the couch. I don't see Sora or any of the adults around. I frown, addressing Larxene, "Where's everyone else?"

She glances at me and shrugs, "Sora's with mom in the store working and Dad and Uncle Cloud went out to feed. Oh, and Tifa went to get dinner."

I nod, "Right.."

Her eyes narrow, "Planning to leave again? Gonna come back at four a.m. again, Vani?"

I glare at her, "Don't call me that. It's a stupid nickname."

She rolls her eyes, "Whatever, hotshot."

Sora and Aunt Aerith come into the living room and Aerith smiles, "Ready for dinner, Vanitas? Tifa went for takeout."

I shrug, "Sure."

Sora halfheartedly glares at me, "You're actually going to eat with us? Well, that's new."

I push him, walking to the kitchen, "Oh, shut up."

"Don't be rude to your brother," Aerith says.

"I'll do what I want," I grab a soda from the fridge and open it, gulping almost half of the drink at once.

Aerith walks up to me, angry, and grabs my arm, making me drop my soda and she says, "You will not disrespect this family, do you hear me? You've never been like this, and I won't allow it just because of your transformation. This is my house, and you follow my rules, do you understand me?"

I look at my spilled drink, then at Aerith. Suddenly I feel angry with her and I lash out, smacking her across the face, she stumbles back with a gasp. In a second Larxene is in my face and she pushes me, sending me across the room. She appears before me and pulls me up, growling, "Touch my mother again, I will make you hurt!"

"Tell her to mind her own business then. She's not my mother, why should I have to listen to her?" I ask. I don't know what I'm so mad at, but I like the feeling of power coming from my anger. The power courses through me and I stand and push Larxene, sending her clear across the living room.

Sora yells in surprise, "Vanitas?!"

"Shut up!" I growl, watching Larxene get up and run at me. My eyes narrow and punch her as she gets to me. She stumbles back, a bruise forming on her face, under her left eye. Her eyes, they glow with anger. Amber anger, full of unleashed power.

A part of me wants to hurt her more, make her fear me. But I don't. Instead, I frown and teleport to the hospital back home, my real home. The home I lost because of this curse. I know there's humanity in me somewhere. Coming to check on Zexion proves it. I'm conflicted. I want them to stay away from me, but I don't want to hurt them. I know I have to hurt them to get my point across.

"This is the hand I've dealt. This is the bed I've made. Now I have to lie in it," I sigh, looking down at my unconscious friend. He's all hooked up to machines, just to keep him breathing. I did this to him. There's no way he'll ever forgive me. But, maybe it's better this way.


I watch Xion sleep for the second night and I'm finding it hard not to feed on her. I can feel the electricity without touching her and I want to take her life, to taste it, just once. But I know that if I taste it, I won't stop. I'll kill her. A part of me still wants to protect her. This one shred of humanity won't let me go. I want to let go.

I lean down and push a stray hair from her face gently. She stirs lightly and opens her eyes. She gasps and I put a finger to my lips, wanting her to be silent. She sits up, whispering my name. I nod slowly and sit with her. She stares at me, I know she wants answers. I know I'm not ready to give them.

"Is this really who you've become, Vanitas?" she asks in a hushed tone.

I shrug lightly, "It could be."

"You hurt Zexion.." she says.

Again, I shrug, "You wouldn't listen."

"Are you.. Going to hurt me?" she stares at me with wide perfectly blue eyes.

I frown, trying to find the truthful answer. I look at her, feeling the delicious energy radiating off this dark beauty before me. I lean a little closer to her and whisper, "Only if you give me reason to."

"Define... Reason," she whispers as I move back to face her. I go to answer when she presses her lips softly against mine.

I push her down against the bed and growl, "What do you think you're doing?"

"I don't fear you, Vanitas. I know who you really are. I'm not afraid of what you hide behind," she replies.

"You should fear me. I can kill you," I say.

"And if you wanted to, you would have by now," she whispers, reaching up and touching my face. The electricity runs through me hot and new. Delicious.