Though Roxas would stay for a while before taking the next step in his journey, he spent many of the first days apologizing and discussing with those he had wronged with his uncontrollable passion for Axel.
Naminé was allowed to stay for the rest of the continuing summer, but come fall and she would return to her duties.
Meanwhile, the memory of Vanitas's gentleness still caught itself in Ventus's stomach and refused to digest. Every moment he spent with Vanitas since then, he had felt like bursting from a strange nervous feeling he had never had before with anyone.
"Roxas, Naminé, what shall I do? This memory of Vanitas is making me sick..." Ventus pleaded to his siblings one night.
Roxas and Naminé exchanged glances.
"Tell him," they both stated simply.
Ventus shrieked, "Tell him? Do you understand what will happen if I tell him?"
"He'll understand because he's your best friend?" Roxas answered in question.
"Exactly! He'll understand I'm a foolish boy again!" Ventus shouted.
"If Vanitas can show you that much gentleness in one day, who knows how much gentleness he's contained for years? It's just waiting for someone to open up to." Naminé added.
Ventus groaned. "It's not like he'll return the feeling..."
"How do you know that?" Roxas insisted.
"Because Vanitas is always talking about women."
"Well...That may be true, but you won't know unless you find out." Naminé pointed.
Ventus groaned again in misery, slouching against the wall.
"Listen, how about tomorrow I accompany you to Vanitas's and you can confess to him then?" Roxas suggested.
"Tomorrow?! How will I even know what to say?" Ventus shrieked again.
"You'll know if you listen to your heart," Naminé explained, "your heart gives you the answers all the time; you just have to listen to it."
"Is that what Roxas did when he ran away?" Ventus spat.
Roxas blushed. "Well, it did tell me to pursue Axel by any means necessary..."
"My entire life for the past several years has been a mess; I'm not sure my heart can handle another." Ventus said.
"At least think it over tonight, and let me know if you want to confess tomorrow. I'm more than happy to accompany you." Roxas replied. "Goodnight, Ventus."
Naminé gently touched Ventus's hand before following Roxas out of Ventus's chamber.
Ventus flopped onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. He stayed quiet, trying to listen to what his heart said.
Then, in the quiet hours of the night, it spoke.
"Roxas, I'm ready to confess to Vanitas." Ventus decided the next morning.
"Oh, really? Alright then, let's go right after we finish eating." Roxas agreed.
"Where are you boys off to?" Ansem asked.
"To take care of some, ah, unfinished business before I have to leave." Roxas replied.
"Oh right, Lord Xaldin has made you a merchant, correct?" Naminé recalled.
"Yes, and I'll be leaving just days after my birthday." Roxas answered.
"What about Axel? Surely you're not going to just leave him again?" Ventus mentioned.
"Oh...I suppose I didn't think of that." Roxas glanced at Axel, who stood silently in the corner. Axel merely shrugged.
"I suppose he could come with me, but I could never ask that of him..." Roxas mumbled. "Axel?"
"I would love to join you," Axel assured, "besides, it's not like I have anywhere better to be."
"Then that will be it, I suppose." Roxas nodded.
"Well, I'm finished eating." Ventus said, though he had hardly touched his meal. "Let's go, Roxas."
He stood quickly, the anxiety growing with each passing second that Roxas did not move.
"Alright, let's go. Come on, Axel." Roxas motioned with his head.
"Oh, you're not really bringing him, are you?" Ventus groaned.
"Why not?" Roxas asked.
Ventus shot Axel an annoyed glance and sighed, "Fine, let's just get going."
"Good luck, Ven," Naminé called out as they left.
Ventus folded his arms tightly.
The three stood in Vanitas's doorstep, and butterflies fluttered in Ventus's stomach.
"You really think I should do this?" Ventus piped up.
"Yes, I really think this will help." Roxas assured with a smile.
Ventus shuffled his feet side to side. "What if he doesn't want to be friends with me after this?"
"Then he was never a friend to begin with." Roxas replied defiantly. "I know I've had difficulty putting up with him, but I really think you should do this."
Still unsure but unwilling to admit it, Ventus glanced at Axel. He couldn't verbally ask for an opinion, but Axel seemed to know just what Ventus wanted, and he nodded in response.
Ventus took a deep breath and rapped on the door. Immediately, a slave opened the door and allowed them inside.
Ventus's knees shook as they stood in the quiet hall. "Is Vanitas home?"
"Yes, he is outside training." The slave hastened and led them outside. He pushed open the doors to the yard, and Ventus swallowed at the sight of Vanitas sparring against another slave.
In a swift movement of grace, Vanitas bested the slave. The slave fell to the ground dramatically.
"You put up quite a fight," Vanitas smirked, "still, it was not enough to beat me, as it never will be."
The slave who had invited Ventus and his accompaniment in rushed ahead to notify Vanitas of his visitors.
Vanitas assessed his audience, and climbed the steps to meet them. He greeted them with his usual brash swagger.
Though Ventus had seen the much softer side of his friend, he could not find the strength to open his lips.
Vanitas responded with harsh yet empty words, "What's wrong, Ven? Have you become as meek as your brother?"
"Not in a million years," Ventus challenged, realizing Vanitas had not caught on with his strange behavior their past encounters. He briefly looked at Roxas, who gave him a nod.
"I came to speak with you - privately." Ventus said.
"What, have you come to confess your love to me?" Vanitas teased, and Ventus reddened deeply. Perhaps he had caught on.
Axel and Roxas drew their breaths.
"Uhh...why don't you show me that sword technique?" Ventus retorted quickly.
But Vanitas had grown too clever to be thrown off now. "It seems to me you'd rather have me teach you a differentkind of sword technique..."
An immature snicker came from Axel, and Roxas gently and wordlessly reprimanded him.
"You have to admit that was a pretty good joke," Axel noted.
Ventus blushed furiously and tugged Vanitas down the steps.
"Really Ven, what did you come here for?" Vanitas murmured.
"Just...act like you are actually going to teach me something until they leave." Ventus muttered.
"What do you want to know?" Vanitas asked.
"I don't know...what you just showed your slave." Ventus decided. "Like I had suggested before."
"Alright." Vanitas handed Ventus a wooden sword and closed his hand around Ventus's firmly. "Grip it tightly, just as I have taught you before."
Ventus nodded, swallowing thickly. He glanced at the steps, and noticed his brother and the slave were gone. The garden was now empty except for Ventus and Vanitas.
"They're gone." Ventus mumbled.
"Alright, what is it you wanted to tell me?" Vanitas asked, examining his sword for dirt.
"I...um..." The words he had rehearsed endlessly the previous night now seemed to slip from him. His heart was silent, except for its loud pounding.
"Ven? It's alright, you can tell me anything." Vanitas assured.
Ventus closed his eyes. "I...I'm...I think I'm falling in love with you..."
Vanitas's sword landed on the ground with a dull thud.
"Yes, I'm falling in love with you. Ever since you were so reassuring that day Naminé came home, I couldn't stop thinking about you. I wanted...I want to be the only one you show that side to. I'm...not afraid to be weak around you anymore, because I
know, deep inside, you're not as harsh as you paint yourself to be. Please Vanitas, I want to be gentle and soft together with you."
Just like that, the words spilled out.
Vanitas was silent for a long time, until he responded, "Ven...I...I feel the same way. I knew someday one of us would show each other another side of us, but I never imagined it would be me..."
"I'm so glad it was you," Ventus affirmed, "otherwise, I wouldn't have had the courage to show you how I feel today."
Vanitas smiled at the ground. "Then...kiss me, Ven."
Ventus's heart nearly stopped. "What?"
"Please kiss me, Ven; show me another side of you." Vanitas murmured. "I want to show another side of me."
"A-alright." Ventus closed his eyes and leaned forward.
Vanitas took a step closer and pressed his lips to Ventus's. Ventus raised his arms and wrapped them around Vanitas's neck, and Vanitas placed his hands on Ventus's waist.
Ventus's heart skipped at Vanitas's gentle touch on his waist. He tilted his head and pulled Vanitas closer. His hands crept into Vanitas's raven black hair.
When they broke apart, they gazed into each other's eyes. Ventus studied Vanitas's honey gold ones, shining back at him like the stars.
"Ven, will you stay over for the night? I have so many sides I want to explore with you." Vanitas asked.
Ventus couldn't hold back the smile that crept across his face. "Yes, Vani."
Translations
- In veritate et caritate - With truth and love