Disclaimer: I wished I owned Kingdom Hearts, but unfortunately, I don't. Just this story. :P This 50 Drabble Challenge belongs to Terra ForceXIII.

A/N: Holy cow! It's been a while sense I updated this right at the pivotal point! D: Argh! I'm so sorry guys. I hope this makes up for my absence since I've been busy with a lot of things. Not going into details because you're obviously here for the story. XD

So! I'm just gonna say this, you've probably a noticed a shift of story perspective right? As in: Vanitas had more focus at the beginning and now Ventus has more focus. Well, that's intentional because I need to round off these characters equally...or at least try. OTL Either way, I hope this is still keeping up your interests. ^^

Thanks for reading and reviewing! It's much appreciated. Please enjoy and R&R!


~ Empty Tides ~

Vanitas didn't care that his lungs burned with the lack of oxygen. He just needed to get to Xion and quick! That idiot, Ventus, couldn't do anything right! Skidding around the corner, Vanitas searched for Xion and his eyes widened when he found her struggling to get up from the pavement. "Xion!"

The raven-haired girl shook her head before her cerulean eyes landed on him. "Vanitas?"

"What the hell happened?" he growled. Holding her up, Vanitas narrowed his eyes. "Where's Ventus?"

"H-He's with Fuu!" Xion replied, gripping his shirt tightly. "Vanitas, there's something wrong with her! And that guy!"

Guy? Vanitas blinked only to shield Xion when a strong gust of wind came out of nowhere.

"Fuu!" He heard the blond cry out.

Peering against the wind, Vanitas could barely make out the figures of Ventus and his soulmate standing together in the eye of the storm. Xigbar—the bastard—was standing off to the side, grinning maliciously. Vanitas gritted his teeth, wanting nothing more than to wipe that look off his face.

Before his thoughts got any darker, the raven-haired male felt Xion's trembling hands gripping him tightly. "V…Vanitas, what's happening?"

He frowned. There was no way he could possibly be subtle about this anymore. Still, the last thing Vanitas wanted was for Xion to panic. Smirking slightly, Vanitas distracted her mind when he wrapped a firm hand around hers. "What? A little wind too strong for you? God, Xion, grow a pair."

"Making a joke at a time like this…" Xion scolded, though her tone was becoming steady again. She gave him a timid smile and retorted. "And you're an idiot. That's impossible for me."

"Touché. Plus, you're better off as a chick."

"No…!" Looking to his right, Vanitas spotted Terra; his face in horror before he gripped his weapon tightly. That same blackness that surrounded the brunet's left arm earlier started radiating off his entire body. "They can't summon that thing!"

Xigbar—noticing Terra's rush forward—smirked. "Finally joined the party, huh?" The brunet attempted to hit Xigbar with his weapon, but an invisible force knocked Terra away and the brunet ended up flying against a tree. Clicking his tongue, Xigbar shook his head. "That's really too bad, Terra; looks like it doesn't want to play with you."

"What the frick is he talking about?" Vanitas questioned, watching as Terra struggled to get up. Narrowing his eyes, Vanitas stood protectively in front of Xion—the girl still holding his hand tightly—as he demanded. "Hey, Patchman! What the hell are you planning on do?"

"Hmm? Oh, it's just you." Xigbar yawned before explaining. "Nothing much. I'm just…bored. Thought I'd have fun trying to summon the forbidden Unversed."

"Forbidden…?" Vanitas gaped, suddenly turning his head when he heard a ferocious roar coming in the direction of Ventus and Fuu's location. A chill ran down Vanitas's spine when he caught a glimpse of the emerging Unversed.

"Yeah, forbidden." Xigbar sniggered. "They don't call it the Iron Prisoner for nothing."


- 28 -
.: Subtlety :.


~ Windy Skies ~

It was getting harder to breath, but Ventus wasn't going to let go of her! There was no way he was going stop holding her when she was obviously suffering from a backlash of emotions.

"F-Fuu!" Ventus struggled to call out, only for a strong gust of wind to slap against him. Fighting to keep his eyes open, Ventus was aware that Fuu was no longer responding to anything. Her visible eye was dull and lifeless and her hidden eye… Blue eyes widened in shock when he saw it. There was a crest embedded her left eye…and it was calling out to the giant Unversed roaring above them. Was that what Xigbar was after? Shaking his head to dissipate his shock, Ventus cried out. "Fuu, stop! Listen to me!"

A laugh echoed in his ears and Ventus glared at the cause of all this. Xigbar retained his grin and wiggled his finger. "Aw, come on now. I can't help it when you look a little stupid trying to call her back when she's so focused, kiddo."

"What did you do to her?" The blond demanded, unknowingly tightening his grip around the lilac-haired girl's upper arms…not that she would verbally or visibly respond.

"Man you guys are quick to put the blame on something." Xigbar sighed while exasperatedly shaking his head. Glancing in Ventus's direction before placing his eyes on the Unversed violently escaping it's confinement, the man replied. "I'm not doing anything as unbelievable as that sounds."

"What—?"

"Use your head. How are Unversed summon? When there's a stress involved between two soulmates, remember?" Xigbar clicked his tongue and drawled irritably. "And…who's Fuu's soulmate?"

Ventus bit down on his bottom lip in frustration. Like hell he was going to indulge Xigbar with his stupid fancies, but…the blond could tell that beneath his belittling way of talking, Xigbar was being truthful. Ventus already knew how an Unversed was born thanks to Aqua, but what has he done to Fuu that—

Wait. Being hit with realization, Ventus nervously asked, "I…I'm the reason she's…?"

"Bingo." Xigbar clapped.

"Don't listen to him, Ven! He's lying!" The blond looked to his right with a helpless look; Terra panting heavily while using his Keyblade to support himself.

Shrugging, Xigbar turned his back on Ventus and Fuu while speaking secretively, "Terra's one to sugarcoat things, but whatever. I'm being the truthfully one here; think of it as…giving you justice."

"Ven—!"

"…What do you mean?"

Turning around, Xigbar gave the blond a lopsided smirk. He and Ventus ignored Terra's outcries as Xigbar continued, "You honestly thought you were always paired up with her? As if."

Tired of his riddles, Ventus shouted, "Stop dodging the question and make sense already!"

The Unversed roared loudly as Xigbar revealed with a chuckle. "Have you ever wondered why you're just falling for her now? Especially when you already had lingering feelings for your brother's girlfriend?"

That roundabout confession…it suddenly made sense out of everything. "N…Naminé was…"

"That's right." Xigbar dropped the subtleties. "Naminé was your original soulmate…but Fuu changed all that because she wanted to be a selfish little girl."