Sora, Ven, Aqua, Kairi, Terra, Riku, and Mickey stood outside the old mansion, discussing their plans once again.
"Right, so to recap, Kairi and I are going home to the Land of Departure. Once we find what Master Yen Sid wants sent us there for, we'll check in with you guys and then join Terra and Riku at Mirage Arena. Mickey will meet with Ansem in Radiant Garden, while Sora and Ven meet with Master Yen Sid here in Twilight Town." Aqua said as the others nodded.
"Sounds like a plan to me." Sora said as he rested his hands behind his head.
"Good, then I suppose we'll be going." Terra said as he and Riku summoned their armor.
"Sora, you still have my Lucky Charm, right?" Kairi asked as Sora fished into his pocket and showed Kairi said, Lucky charm with a smile on his face.
"You know I'd never lose it, Kairi." Sora said before Kairi kissed him on the cheek, causing him to turn a deep shade of red with a goofy expression on his face. Neither of them noticed as Ven and Aqua looked at each other then nervously looked away.
"I know you won't." Kairi said with a smile before she turned and summoned her armor. Aqua turned and did the same almost instantly after she did.
"Riku do me a favor, if I ever fall for a girl; beat me senseless so I can actually come to my senses." Terra said as Riku laughed and punched him in the arm.
"There's that sense of humor I was talking about! See, you're improving already." Riku said as they, along with Aqua and Kairi, turned and summoned their Keyblade Riders.
"You'll be sure to show Master Yen Sid, Xehanort's Reports right, Sora?" Aqua asked as Sora nodded.
"You bet." Sora said as Aqua turned back. Almost instantly the four Keyblade Warriors lifted off and took to the stars, flying off in opposite directions.
"Your highness, how will you get to Radiant Garden?" Sora asked as Mickey chuckled.
"Same way you used to get around Sora. Look." Mickey said as the Gummy Ship appeared overhead in a flash of light. Donald and Goofy sat at the controls in the domed section of the ship.
"See ya fellas real soon!" Mickey said with a laugh before being teleported onto the Gummy Ship which disappeared soon after.
"Come on Ven; let's go see Master Yen Sid about these reports." Sora said as he and Ven started walking down towards town.
"Yeah, okay." Ven said somewhat despondently.
"Oh, hey, I've been meaning to ask. I know she's your Master and all, but how are things between you and Aqua?" Sora asked as Ven scratched the back of his head.
"Things are…okay. We haven't really had a chance to get close though." Ven said. Sora looked at him curiously.
"Why's that?" Sora asked as they entered back into the Tram Commons.
"We kinda made an agreement when we got back from that little vacation to the Destiny Islands that we'd wait until I passed my Masters Qualification Exam before we tried anything like dating. She says it would be unethical of her, as my master, to have any sort of romantic involvement with me, her student." Ven said as Sora nodded, putting his hands behind his head like he usually would.
"I know what you mean. She said the same thing to me once while we were trying to restore you." Sora said as they stopped to allow the tram to pass by.
"I can't argue with her on that. But ever since we both shared our true feelings with each other the day I was restored, three months ago, we just haven't…Mmm, what's the right word?" Ven asked as Sora shrugged.
"I dunno. What are you trying to say?" Sora asked as they entered the market street. Ven sighed slightly.
"I dunno. We just aren't connecting anymore if that makes any sense." Ven said as Sora stopped.
"You mean you don't know if she likes you anymore?" Sora asked as Ven lowered his head slightly.
"I'm not sure anymore, Sora. I mean, what if she's starting to like Terra, or even you more?" Ven asked as Sora stifled a laugh.
"Me? Why would you think Aqua would be interested in me?" Sora asked with an amused expression.
"Because you're just like me, Sora, and you're a Master so that awkward Master, Apprentice thing isn't there to hinder you two anymore." Ven said as Sora burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Ven asked confused as Sora composed himself.
"Ven, Aqua will always be my Master. She'll also be my friend, just like you, Terra, and Riku are to me. Kairi and I…well, we don't do anything about our relationship either for the same reason yet we know full well that we love each other." Sora said with a smile.
"Then…how do I know if Aqua still loves me, but not just as her Apprentice or just her friend? I want to be more than that. So how do I…know?" Ven asked as Sora sighed. He then happened to glance down the road leading to the alley and an idea popped in his mind.
"Ven, I think we're going to have to take a slight detour." Sora said as he started walking towards the Alley. Ven arched a curious eyebrow.
"Huh? But what about Master Yen Sid and Xehanort's Reports?" Ven asked as Sora stopped and turned towards him.
"If we get in trouble for being late, then it'll be my fault and Aqua can yell at me all she wants. I'll accept full responsibility for making us late. But we've got to settle your insecurities about Aqua's feelings about you right away." Sora said as he and Ven both walked into the Alley together.
…
"Well this is a surprise. I thought you had left with the others." Axel said as he saw Sora and Ven enter the Usual Spot where he, Hayner, Pence, and Olette were gathered.
"We were going to see Master Yen Sid, but Ven here started feeling down, so I thought he could use a little boost." Sora said as Hayner hopped off the crate he was sitting on.
"Well, sure. Anything to help out a friend in need." Hayner said as Pence looked at Ven curiously.
"Say, don't you look a little bit like Roxas?" Pence asked.
"Pence, this ain't Roxas." Axel said.
"Yeah, Roxas is with me now. He and a mutual friend of Axel's are both with me." Sora said as Axel chuckled, looking up at the ceiling in thought.
"Ah, Xion. Such fun times." Axel said, lost in his memory.
"Perhaps I should introduce myself. I'm Ventus but everyone else calls me Ven." Ven said.
"Well since you know Axel, I'm Hayner."
"I'm Pence."
"And I'm Olette."
"This your first time in Twilight Town?" Hayner asked as Ven looked at Sora who shrugged.
"Yeah, I guess it is." Ven said.
"So what's the problem, Ven?" Axel asked, putting his hand on the youth's shoulder.
"Ven's a little down. He doesn't know if Aqua still loves him or not." Sora said. Axel furrowed his brow at the comment.
"Wait, hold it, you mean he…and Aqua…they're-…" Axel said, holding his two index fingers parallel to each other and moving them close together. Sora nodded with his arms crossed.
"Whoa, you mean the girl with the blue hair and the Keyblade, the girl who was your Master? The girl who Axel groped and was almost killed by? That girl?" Hayner asked as Ven nodded.
"Yeah, Axel's lucky to be alive on that one." Ven said with a chuckle.
"So what exactly are you not getting, Ven? How could she not be head over heels for you?" Axel asked as he walked over towards the stove in the corner.
"Well…" Ven said, quickly giving a rundown of the circumstances.
"It does sound pretty hard. Waiting until you're a Master and not being able to do anything until then is pretty rough." Olette said, putting a comforting hand on Ven's shoulder.
"Yeah. Too bad we don't know that much about love." Pence said as he scratched the back of his head while nervously looking away from Olette.
"I'd almost suggest dragging Fuu in here so we at least have another girl's opinion. But she's always hanging around with Seifer and the gang." Hayner said with a groan. Axel adopted a mischievous grin.
"I know, Sora, but on a black wig and channel Xion!" Axel said as Hayner, Pence, Olette, and even Ven laughed. Sora simply crossed his arms and scowled at Axel.
"Axel, I'm a Keyblade Master now. I can kick your butt. Plus Xion doesn't find that funny…Roxas on the other hand…" Sora said as he could sense his Nobody's amusement inside of him which was silenced rather abruptly, Xion's interference, probably.
"Well at least Roxas still finds it funny. But seriously. Ven, you would seriously doubt Aqua of all people? Does she even know you love her?" Axel asked as Ven and Sora both nodded.
"Yeah. The day I was restored, we both confessed our feelings. We just can't do anything until I'm a Master…but what if that doesn't change anything?" Ven asked as Axel sighed and leaned against the stove before he started singing… (Music Cue: A Guy Like You – Hunchback of Notre Dame)
"Listen, this heart of a lover
is glowing this evening."
"Um, Axel." Hayner, Pence, Olette, and Sora said, pointing towards him rather frantically. Axel leaned forward and looked behind him, before sighing and shrugging casually before adding…
"True, that's because I'm on fire.
But still, there's "l'amour."
With a snap of his fingers, the fire on his rump was out and he quickly grabbed his old Organization robes off a peg on the wall before continuing…
"Somewhere out there in the night
her Heart is also a light,
and I know the guy she just might
be burning for."
Axel sang as he traced a heart made of flames around Ven with his fingers which extinguished itself soon after. He then put his arm around Ven as he sang…
"A guy like you
she's never known, kid.
A guy like you,
a girl does not meet every day.
You've got a look,
that's all your own, kid.
Could there be two?"
Axel sang before Sora, Hayner, Pence, and Olette sang…
"Like you?
No way!"
Then Axel jumped back in singing…
"Those other guys
that she could dangle
all look the same
from every boring point of view.
You're a surprise
from every angle.
You're way above
she's gotta love
a guy like you."
Then Pence started singing…
"A guy like you,
gets extra credit.
Because it's true,
you've got a certain something more."
Pence stumbled as Axel groaned, face palmed, and added…
"You're aces, kid."
Then Olette started singing…
"You see that face,
you don't forget it."
Then Hayner, Pence, and Sora sang…
"Want something new?"
"That's you." Axel said, pointing at Ven before the five of them sang…
"For sure!"
Then Olette started singing, glancing at Axel as she sang…
"We all have gaped
at some Adonis."
But then she looked at Pence as she sang…
"But then we crave a meal
more nourishing to chew."
Then Hayner jumped in, making a picture frame with his fingers towards Ven as he sang…
"And since your hair,
looks like it exploded."
Then the five of them sang together, Axel and Sora glaring daggers at Hayner for the remark since their hair also looked like it exploded…
"No question of,
she's gotta love
a guy like you!"
Then Axel, overdramatically putting the back of his hand to his forehead and his other hand over his chest as he sang…
"Call me a hopeless romantic
but Ventus, I feel it."
Then Sora chimed in singing…
"She wants you so
any moment she'll walk through your door…"
Then they started walking around the room, hopping a little on their feet as they sang…
"…FOR!
A guy so swell.
A guy like you,
with all you bring her.
A fool could tell
it's why she fell
for you-know-who!"
Then they turned towards Ven as they sang…
"You ring her bells!
You're one hum dinger!"
Then Axel sang…
"If she wants ooh-la-la,
then she'll want you la-la!"
Ven blushed furiously at that with a small smile on his face as they sang…
"She will discover, guy
you're one heck of a guy
who wouldn't love a guy! Like! You-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u!"
(End Music)
"Well, Ven, you feel any better about Aqua's feelings towards you?" Sora asked as Ven smiled and nodded.
"Yeah…you're right guys. Aqua and I will always love each other. Nothing will ever change that. Thanks, you really helped me out." Ven said as Axel chuckled.
"No charge, pal. Got it memorized?" Axel asked, tapping the side of his head.
"Well, I hate to have to run but, we've really gotta be going. We've still got a mystery to solve and worlds to protect." Sora said as the others nodded.
"Going to see Master Yen Sid huh?" Axel asked, earning a confused look from Sora and Ven.
"How did you know?" Ven asked.
"The guy's got me doing some odd jobs in his tower on occasion. Sweeping the floors, washing windows, keeping out Heartless. Stuff like that. He won't let me touch his hat for some reason. Probably afraid I'd give him lice or flood the tower or something. Oh well, he's paying me so what do I care?" Axel asked with a shrug.
"Yeah, don't touch the hat. Mickey found that out the hard way from what I hear." Ven said as Sora cleared his throat.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye again." Hayner said as Sora and Ven shrugged.
"It's always hard to say goodbye to you guys. I guess a part of Roxas will always be here with the four of you." Sora said as the others nodded.
"We probably should get going. We've gotta find out what those Keyblades of ours are up to and put a stop to them." Ven said.
"We understand. We hope you win." Pence said as Olette nodded.
"We'll be rooting for you." Olette added.
"Yeah, and hey, is Kairi available?" Hayner asked.
"NOOO!" "Eh no!"
End Chapter 21
The Song above was a slightly altered version of "A Guy Like You" from Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Oh, and that "NO!" "Eh no" Thing is an homage to "Organize This," a flash animated fan made series about Organization XIII on YouTube. Look it up and watch it, it's well worth it.