Chapter 12
Gone

Aqua was tending the fresh lit fire she'd built in Axel's shop when she heard the sound of galloping hooves, the clapping noise gradually slowing down as it approached the village. Almost on her feet, she hesitated. Quietly, she pulled the grass matt away from the doorway, just enough for her to peer out. Sure enough, Terra was coming into the village, sliding off his horse and tying it to a small wooden fence. Gently she pulled away from the doorway, leaning against the wall and curling her knees to her chest. He was safe; it would be best if he had no idea that she was here. He wouldn't understand.

Terra approached the small house with delicacy; he'd never been to Axel's house until now. The irony of the situation was almost amusing. Knocking gently, he waited from someone to come to the door. Almost immediately, three boys peered around the doorway. Terra frowned. "Riku, what are you doing here?"

"My mom is trying to get Axel's mom to leave," he replied simply, tugging one of the other boys around the corner.

"Who are you then?" Terra asked softly to the remaining boy.

"Lea," whispered the toddler. He looked barely older than Ventus, clearly the shyer of the two brothers. "Where's Axel?"

"He's with my brother. Where's your mom?"

Lea grabbed Terra's hand, tugging him into the tiny house. Riku's mother was in the other room, seated next to Axel's mother. The woman's dark auburn hair was tied into a small withering bun, her turquoise eyes staring out the window listlessly. "Hello Terra," whispered Riku's mother. "If you're in town to see what remains of your home, I suggest you go do that. I can manage with their mother."

"How long have you been here? The entire village evacuated, didn't they?"

"That's true; they all left when the fire began to spread down the valley. We aren't sure when it stopped but...I suppose that boy did something about it, am I right?"

Terra hesitated. "Why did you stay, out of everyone? You have Riku to look after. What made you stay? If anyone owes anything to her, it would be my family, not yours."

"We are a little different too," She replied simply, her sea green eyes momentarily glancing over him before smiling. "I don't suppose you ever bothered wondering why my son's hair was different."

Terra huffed. "Just how many of your kind are there?"

"Not as many as you think," She whispered, reaching over and pulling Axel's mother upright. "But we tend to stick in kinship families of at least two."

"Will you take them to the next village over then? Axel should be returning soon."

"Did you hear that? Axel will be back soon—I'll tend to my family. You shall tend your own. Don't worry Terra, they'll be fine."

She was almost done smothering the fire when she felt him approaching the house—his house. Startled, Aqua slipped out from under the burnt remains, paws stinging briefly above the still smoldering wood, her slim tail whipping behind her. Slowing to a trot at a safe distance away, Aqua watched as Terra reached the house, the sheer anguish visible in the slump of his shoulders and how his steps haltered at the top of the hill. She looked away, taking shelter behind a tree before resuming a more human form. Taking a deep breath, she sat and waited.

Terra was examining the burnt wood when she stepped out. He looked up, hand halfway to his father's sword, startled. She cleared her throat. "Hi Terra"

"Aqua—"Terra rose to his feet, stepping over the debris and opening his arms to embrace her. She met him halfway, burying her face into the front of his chest. "I was worried about you."

"I know," She murmured, pulling away. "Where is your family?"

"They're far from here—out of Xehanort's reach. What are you doing here?"

"I…"

"Aqua?"

Aqua took a deep breath, closing her eyes and taking a few steps back. "I came to help you."

"Aqua—you don't have to. This is my problem—my families problem—"

"You are my family too Terra," Aqua interrupted, hand over her heart and shoulders back in determination. "I won't take no for an answer."

"I can't watch you die again Aqua, not when I know that there's nothing I can do to help." Terra replied weakly. She shook her head.

"I'm staying."

"How sweet, star crossed lovers giving their short lives for each other."

The singsong voice came from above, Xigbar dangling from the branches with a Cheshire smile pasted across his face. "Oops, did I ruin the moment?"

He disappeared, the light wispy smoke barely beginning to waver away when he appeared right behind Terra.

"Sorry to hear about your house," he drawled, wrapping an arm around Terra's shoulders. "Word is that it went out in a blast though."

"Get off of me—"

Gone again; Arm around Aqua's waist now, Xigbar snickered. "Now, now—don't get all hot and bothered. The main event isn't even here yet—he's wanted to pick a fight with your family for a while. I think he'd be happy to hear the first to die would be that old man's first born son."

Undeterred by his antics, Aqua wrapped her own arm around Xigbar's waist. "Why are you here then? Why do you need to be here?"

"Like I'd tell you—"

"Xehanort is like a half breed now, isn't he?" Terra interjected. Xigbar whined, rolling his eyes.

"You two have no sense of adventure! Way to ruin the suspense! Is your boyfriend always such a spoil sport?" He nudged Aqua's side, winking suggestively. She ignored him.

"Why are you here?" She repeated coldly, eyes narrowing into thin icy slits. "You have no reason to be here."

"Neither do you, but you're still here," retorted Xigbar, shaking his head. "Kids these days; anyone with their right mind would know two against one isn't a fair fight."

"You mean how you attacked me in the forest and later burnt down Terra's house?" Aqua shot back. Her grip against his waist grew tighter. "You're telling me that was a fair fight?"

"Maybe—what are you going to do about it sweetheart? Hit me? You wouldn't—I'd just teleport away."

"Don't mock me, I'm not stupid. I know you can't teleport away from someone who's touching you unless you want to take them with you." Aqua snapped.

Terra hesitated. There was something different about the way she was acting—it wasn't that he'd though Aqua unable to get angry. It wasn't anger though. There was something underlying her voice and he didn't quite like it.

"I'm a lot stronger than you poppet," Xigbar yawned, clearly not interested in going anywhere. "I can easily push you off and teleport to safety—don't think I don't know you can fight. Your dad taught you how to fight right? He wasn't a match so what makes you'll give me a worthy fight—"

Aqua slammed her fist straight into Xigbar's nose, the older man crying out in pain as he doubled over. She reached over him and pulled his body against hers. Looking back at Terra, he suddenly recognized the emotion he'd been sensing; fear. Aqua smiled weakly and closed her eyes. "Good-bye Terra."

And with that, she was gone, nothing but slight smoke and charcoal left where she'd been standing. Shocked, Terra struggled to breathe.

They'd just…disappeared, right into thin air in front of him.

They were gone.

They were gone and he was still here.

She was gone.

Gone—not even nearby—who knew where she'd gone with that maniac and she was all alone with no one to help her—

Gone

Xigbar groaned loudly, one hand covering his eyes and the other pinching the bridge of his nose. "You sly little fox," he moaned on the ground. "You could have at least given me a warning."

She didn't reply. He opened a bleary eye, turning his head just enough to see her lying on the ground beside him, breathing heavily and looking at the ground with dazed, watery eyes. "Ah—I heard you were a top-notch spell weaver but even for you…how far away are we?" He muttered, words pronounced nasally.

"A-Across the ocean—far from home."

"You brought us both here? You really did go on a suicide mission doll. Even I wouldn't be stupid enough to try this—can you even stand?"

She sighed, closing her eyes. "If you don't mind, I'd like to put our fight on hold for a few moments."

Xigbar snorted, coughing under the effort. "No arguments there."

"Not even going to try and attack me?'

"Naw, I don't feel like putting in effort into it right now. Did you tell lover boy that you were doing this?"

"No, it's just you and me."

"Did you really have to punch me in the nose then?"

"I didn't want you to redirect the transportation spell."

"Maybe you aren't as stupid as I thought then."

"Thanks."

Ah, sorry for the belated update. I'm taking summer courses in a different city and I barely have time to write anything, let alone find wifi to post it. We're nearing the end and I'm sorry for any heart break that I've created so I tried to apologize with a little Xigbar banter but if that didn't work and you still dislike me for any reasons, I'm sorry. D: