"Wow look at all the flowers!" Sora shouts, his wide eyes taking in all the roses and tulips swaying in the wind. It looks like a colorful sea. "Aqua planted all of these?"
"Yeah. She loves flowers!" Ven smiles as he grabs Sora's hand and leads him deeper in the garden. Sora never knew such a beautiful place was on the other side of the house. Ven touches a white rose before he looks at Sora. "What's your favorite color?"
Ven's eyes are really shining today. The sun is making them sparkle.
"Blue and green..." Sora spots a blue rose.
"Do you want that one?" Ven lets go of him to grab some shears. "If you pick them make sure to make the cut like this." Ven cuts it at a slant before he hands it to Sora. The young boy takes it, staring at it before he smiles. Ven is a bit dazzled by such a bright smile that he doesn't realize that Sora is putting the rose in his hair till he's done.
"This rose goes with your eyes. My mom use to put flowers in my hair...she said the right color can make your eyes pop. And your eyes are beautiful Ven! They're one of my favorite colors!"
Ventus feels something tighten in his chest and his face feels a bit warm. "I-I love your eyes too Sora!" Ven says quickly. He feels like he has a lot of energy. No one has said his eyes were beautiful before...and since it's Sora, it makes him even happier. " Here! This rose is like your eyes!" Ven quickly picks a pretty blue rose and puts it in Sora's hair.
"Yay!" Sora chuckles. Ven's eyes soften as he lays his forehead against Sora's. He really does look cute with a rose in his hair-
"Ew faggots." Sora blinks, looking over at Vanitas who is walking by, pointing a finger and laughing at them. "Flowers in your heads? Could you get any more lamer?"
"You're just jealous!" Ven glares.
Vanitas just keeps pointing at them and laughing as he goes into the woods.
"Don't listen to him Sora. I like the flower idea. It's not lame!" Ven grips his fist when Sora was looking down for a moment.
"You know some kids use to make fun of me too when I would come to school with flowers in my hair. But I didn't care. You're right, it's not lame. Nothing my mom did was lame!" Sora says with a bright smile. Ven feels something clench inside of him and he has the urge to hug Sora so he does.
"What's with the flowers?" Axel comes outside with Roxas.
"We're putting Flowers in our hair that match our eyes!" Ven cheers, letting go of Sora.
"That's-" Axel's face scrunches up.
"Hey Roxas! Here's one for you!" Sora walks up to Roxas, holding a blue rose. He puts it behind his ear before he smiles.
"Cute." Axel breathes out, staring at Roxas like he's about to jump him.
"I feel stupid." Roxas's face gets red at how Sora and Ven are gushing over him. "I'm taking it off-"
"No!" Axel waves his hands around. "It looks good! Sora and Ven are doing it!"
"Why aren't you doing it then?" Roxas raises his eyebrow at him.
"I got to find a green one for Axel!" Sora starts to look around the garden. It takes awhile but Sora does find a few green. He cuts one before handing it to Axel. He puts it in himself before grinning at Roxas, doing a pose.
"How do I look?"
"Better than you usually do."
"H-Hey!" Axel pouts when Roxas chuckles at the face he made.
"Do you guys want to play a game?" Sora says, feeling an excitement bubbling up inside of him. It's been awhile since they've had free time, and even longer since everyone's been together like this. The past few weeks have been hectic, nothing but training.
"Sure!" Ven cheers and Roxas nods his head.
"Why don't we play baseball?" Axel suggests. " Roxas is on my team."
"Baseball with only two people on each team?"Roxas raises his eyebrow.
"Two is all you need!"
"I haven't played baseball in awhile." Sora beams. With that Axel goes to get a bat and a ball. They make bases out of a shoe, stick, Axel's shirt, and yet another shoe. With a game of rock paper scissors it results in Sora's team batting first and Axel's team being on the out field.
"Better watch out Sora. I'm the best ball thrower ever." Axel smirks. Roxas is behind him shaking his head 'no.'
"Bring it on!" Sora grins, getting the bat ready. Axel pulls back his hand, seems to reconsider and throws...not as hard as It seemed like he was going to. It doesn't matter because Sora hits it and is able to run to first base. Ven hits it and Sora's able to get to third base, Ven second.
"This is what I was talking about. We don't have enough people." Roxas complains. Sora frowns only to brighten when he spots Riku coming this way.
"Riku! Do you want to play with us!" Sora yells, waving his arms all around the air.
"Why do you have flowers on your heads?" Riku blinks as he gets closer.
"We're wearing flowers that match our eyes, gosh Riku get with the program." Axel rolls his eyes.
"And we're playing baseball! You wanna play?" Sora smiles at Riku. The older boy stares at him a moment before he shrugs.
"I suppose I am free. I'll play a game with you-"
"Hold up! You need your rose before we let you play." Axle crosses his arms.
"No i'm just going to play-"
"Shun the no roser!" Axel hisses.
"Shun." Roxas hisses with him, the two boys laughing afterward.
"I'm not wearing a stupid-"
"Here you go Riku! I wasn't really sure because your eyes sometimes look green and blue so...I got you a green rose because they look green now!" Sora says with excitement. He just retrieved him one. Riku stares at those eager blue eyes before he gives up.
"Thank you." He mumbles as Sora puts it in his hair and he beams.
"It looks good!" Sora's smile could brighten the world.
Riku feels himself flush so he quickly gets to the batting plate before anyone could see...He's still not use to that light.
"But mine looks better right Sora?" Ven pouts, looking over at Sora with big eyes.
"You look good too Ven!" Sora giggles at his friend.
"Yes! Now that Riku has his rose we may continue." Axel chuckles when Riku glares at him. They play their rounds and are able to get five home in runs before it's Axel and Roxas's turn to bat.
"Out!" Ven calls when Riku had pitched and Axel hit the ball...only for it to go behind him.
"That's booty! I hit it!" Axel yells.
"It's out Axel." Roxas sighs.
"He's cheating!" Axel pouts at Riku who gives him a pointed stare.
"I'm just throwing the ball." Riku throws it again and gets another strike for Axel. After the third time Axel is able to hit it.
"Yess! Haha you all suck!"
"Sora!" Ven grabs the ball and throws it to Sora who has his foot on the first base. He catches it before Axel gets there.
"Out!" Sora cheers. Axel stares at him like he's grown another head.
"Shit." Axel grumbles and sulks behind Roxas.
"Better luck next time Axel!" Sora gives him a sheepish smile when Axel sticks out his lower lip.
"I'll remember this betrayal Sora!"
Roxas hits it on the first time and he makes it to the second base before anyone can stop him.
"That's my Roxas!" Axel starts to cheer and whistle.
"Shut that" Roxas flushes.
"Now it's my time to bring my baby home-" Axel gets in his position to hit the ball.
Everyone tenses before looking over to the left. All the smiles and cheeriness seems to disappear. Sora looks over to see what's got everyone so upset when he spots Vanitas peering at them from behind a tree. The one golden eye he can see is dark. He looks so angry.
Is he mad that they're all playing without him? Sora would feel left out too.
"Hey Vanitas do you want to play with us?" Sora breaks the quiet, getting everyone to look at him like he's crazy.
Vanitas comes out from behind the tree and walks up to them slowly. Sora smiles, about to offer him the bat-
"Why don' you just leave?" Ven gets in front of Sora.
"If you don't have a rose, you can't play." Axel also gets in front of him with Roxas. Even Riku has gotten next to Sora and has crossed his arms.
Vanitas narrows his eyes, the air getting so much tenser. All the boys have gotten stiff but they don't back down.
"Don't worry Vanitas! I'll find you a rose!" Sora is about to go off when Ven grabs his hand.
"There's no yellow roses in the garden. There's no rose for him."
"So he can't play." Roxas finishes.
"Get out of here." Axel puffs up his chest.
"I didn't want to play a stupid game with you dorks anyway." Vanitas snarls. He punches Axel in the face, which gets Roxas to jump him. Vanitas side steps the blonde, kicking him in the side. "Hey Sora look at this-" Vanitas smirks, his eyes starting to get lighter-
Ven covers Sora's eyes. He hears a lot of yelling and thumping. He feels like they're all fighting now.
"P-Please guys Stop! We were having fun! It's okay that Vanitas doesn't have a rose, he can still play-" No one seems to be listening to him.
"What's going on out here?!" He can hear Terra's voice. Roxas yelps before there's a growl and the sound of someone running away.
Ven uncovers his eyes. Sora gasps when he sees how Riku, Axel and Roxas have been damaged. The blonde is breathing heavily laying on his side, holding his stomach. Axel is kneeling next to him, looking red in the face from his anger, his lip bleeding. Riku has been cut on his chest but he's the one who's been barely hurt.
"Are you okay?!" Sora rushes to the three. He frowns when Roxas winces. "Roxas?" Sora's eyes widen when Axel picks Roxas up and the three quickly leave with Terra who urges them to go. Sora is about to run after them when Ven grabs his hand and stops him. "Ven what-"
"They'll be okay Sora. Right now they need to be looked at. Me and you would just be in the way if we went." Ven says with a small smile but it looks forced.
"...It was so much fun too." Sora's head lowers, his eyes watering when he thinks of his hurt friends.
"I know. It's all Vanitas' fault. Why does he have to ruin everything?" Ven growls as he hugs Sora tightly.
"I don't think it was all Vanitas' fault...Why did he have to have a flower? He could have still played with us. I think we hurt his feelings...or course he shouldn't have attacked! But still...I feel bad."
"No It was all his fault. Trust me Sora, he didn't want to play with us. He wanted to ruin our time." Ven pulls away and sees the frown still on Sora's face. "Besides...it was kind of a rule. No flower, no playing. Something so pretty and pure doesn't belong on Vanitas anyway."
"But...maybe he did want to play with us-" Sora says quietly.
"He didn't Sora. Can you trust me?" Ven looks into his eyes. If there's anyone Sora can trust, it's Ventus.
"I trust you."
Ven smiles at him brightly.
"Come on lets get something to eat!" Ven cheers as he interlaces their fingers, running with Sora to the house. Sora looks back towards the woods, knowing Vanitas ran through them to get away. There's still that twisting in his stomach. It gets so bad that he asks to talk to Aqua right before he goes to bed.
"Is there something wrong dear?" Aqua cups his cheeks.
"Um...well..." Sora averts his eyes before he looks up at her. "Could you teach me how to grow roses?"
Aqua blinks before she smiles. "Of course! You didn't have to be nervous about that. I could teach you tomorrow!."
"Really? Yay! And the next time you go to the store could you get yellow rose seeds?"
"Yellow roses? I think that would be a perfect addition to our garden Sora." Aqua giggles when Sora's eyes get so bright.
"I think so too!"
Sora smiles, watering the plant that will soon be a yellow rose bush. He's outside alone right now in the garden. Riku and Ven are doing some sort of extra assignment that Aqua gave to them in the house. Vanitas is in their room...He came back a week ago. He's not talking to anyone but he's giving some pretty mean glares towards Sora...
Vanitas seems down. Every time Sora sees him, he's alone. While Sora is having fun with all his new family members, Vanitas is by himself. Sora doesn't like it. He hopes that once he grows these flowers and gives one to Vanitas, it will cheer him up. Sora would love it if they could all play together.
Right now Terra, Aqua, Axel, and Roxas are gone. They said they went to town and they should be back later tonight...
He can't wait to show Aqua the little bit that his plant has grown since she's been gone. Sora giggles to himself before he goes about and starts weeding the whole garden. He's been really taking care of the flowers ever since Aqua told him what to do. He likes Gardening. It's even funner when Ven is out here with him and they do it together.
"What beautiful flowers." A deep voice says close behind Sora. The young boy is startled by the unfamiliar voice and turns around. There's a man he's never seen before standing behind him. Sora didn't hear him get behind him either. He's smiling at him with this friendly smile.
"Who are you?" Sora tilts his head. "I haven't seen you around here before."
"I'm a drifter. I go where life takes me...I can't help to notice you like plants. Do you want me to show you something cool?" He holds out his hand.
"Something cool?" Sora starts to reach out to take his hand only to stop himself. This is a stranger. He's learn his lesson about a month ago with that guy who almost did dirty things to him...what if this guy is dangerous?... But what if he wants to be his friend? "What are you going to show me that's cool?"
"There's a special plant deep in the forest. I want to show it to you but we should get permission from your parents first." He says with a sweet smile.
Sora perks up at the mention of this man asking for parents. If he was up to something bad he wouldn't want to ask his parents first right? "Well my parents aren't home right now..." Sora says. He doesn't want to correct this man. He doesn't want to say his parents are really dead. Somewhere in his chest it felt right to call Terra and Aqua his parents. "But some of my brothers are!"
"Then let me ask permission of the one in charge."
"That would be Ven! Come this way!" Sora runs off towards the house. He opens the front door and walks in. "He should be in his room-"
"Am I invited in?" Sora stops and looks back at the man. He's standing right outside of the door, waiting there patiently.
"Yes you're invited in." Sora smiles. The man returns it but Sora's not sure he likes this smile. It sends shivers down his spine and when he walks into his home, the air feels like it's dropped in degrees.
"Why thank you little one. Now lets go meet your brothers shall we?" The man walks closer. Sora finds that he can't move. He can't stop looking into this man's eyes that seem to glow. "Take me to your brothers." Sora's body twitches, everything going hazy-
"Sora!" Sora's eyes widen from Ven's voice. Whatever strange feeling this man was making him feel goes away and he's able to take his gaze off of him. Ventus is in front of him in a heart beat. "Get away from him!" Ven gives Sora a look over and when he sees there's no injury he sighs in relief.
"So you must be the brother-" The man starts. When Ven looks at him, the man frowns. He gets pale quickly.
"N-No. Occisor child!" The man turns on his heel and is gone in a blink of an eye. Sora's never seen someone who can run so fast. Ven starts to blow on a whistle that was in his pocket. Sora spots Riku and Vanitas running into the woods after the man.
"Sora are you okay?" Ven turns his attention on Sora who nods dumbly. His brain is still trying to catch up with what just happened. Those blue eyes hold relief before they get serious. "Sora stay here. I'll be right back. That man is bad and I have to make sure he's not going to come back."
Sora opens his mouth to question him but Ven turns on his heel and runs as fast as he can towards the forest...Ven is fast too. How is everyone so fast? What happened to him when that man was looking at him? He felt like he couldn't control his body...and he felt so, so scared. He's still shaking. His stomach had twisted and his chest felt heavy with impending doom.
Ven said that man was bad and Sora knows he is. Now Riku, Vanitas, and Ven are off there chasing after him...What if they need help? With if that Man tries to hurt them? Sora grips his fist. He knows Ven told him to stay here...He knows his mind is telling him to stay where it's safe but he has to make sure his family is okay.
It's Sora's fault. He shouldn't have brought that guy to their home. He should have just declined the man's offer and ran into the house.
With all the bravery he can muster, Sora grabs his wooden sword before running out of the house as fast as he can. He can't lose any of them. Sora lost his parents...He can't lose his brothers. He can't lose his family again. Sora can't do much but he will fight his all to keep them safe.
Sora gets in the forest, looking around frantically for any signs of his family or that man. Sora nearly jumps out of his skin when he hears a roar.
It's inhuman and low, so full of agony and pain.
Sora almost loses the contents of his bladder but he runs towards that roar, even when everything is telling him to turn away. Sora has a feeling that roar came from that man...He can feel goosebumps take over his flesh and that darkness that he felt in the home is even thicker in here.
"Did you really think that you would be able to come here on our territory and try to feed off of our property?" He can hear Vanitas' voice. The boy is sneering. "You must have a death wish."
"He's not property Vanitas!" He hears Ven growl. He's getting closer to the sounds. There's something ripping and there's another one of those inhuman roars. "He's our family!"
"Shut up. Everything you say is annoying. Riku's got the right idea. I've never seen you so cruel." Vanitas sounds like he's smirking. "You both took care of this one quickly. Did the vampire trying to eat Sora get your panties that much in a bunch? He is human. He is food-"
"He's not food! Vanitas I will fight you. I'm not playing. You've been causing problems-"
"Let's hurry up and finish this Ventus. We need to check up on Sora to make sure he hasn't been bitten anywhere." Riku cuts him off shortly.
Sora finally makes it to where his brothers are. What he sees seals his fate.
The man has been...chopped up into pieces. He has no arms or legs, his eyes are black as he screams out in agony. Riku holds his sword- his very real sword- in his hands firmly before he swings, cutting the man's head off. His blood stains the dirt ground and his roars go silent. Ven pushes his sword in the man's heart and Vanitas sets the man on fire with a smirk.
Riku's, Ven's, and Vanitas' eyes are a glowing white, their pupils that of a snakes. A stone of fear falls in the pit of Sora's stomach and he can't help to let out something halfway between a sob and a gasp.
Something is very wrong with his brothers. The feel about them, their actions towards this man...Sora's whole body feels cold from his distress.
As soon as the sound escaped his lips, all three look right at him. Their heads snapped towards him so quick, their reflexes like no other. Ven's face falls and he lets go of his sword. "S-Sora! I-I told you to stay in the house!" Ven screams. He's panicked.
Sora takes a step back, swallowing down the lump in his throat. He wants to say he came to make sure they were okay but nothing will come out. Ven looks very pale and very sad.
"Well what do you know? Sora's found out. He knows we aren't human. Look at how scared he is. He looks like he's about to cry." Vanitas chuckles darkly, licking his lips, those white eyes seem to glow more. "Now I finally get to kill him!" He roars.
Sora can only fall on his butt. He can't run or scream as Vanitas runs towards him so quickly. Those white eyes filled with glee.
"That's enough!" Riku tackles Vanitas before he can touch Sora, throwing his body hard against a tree. Riku bares his teeth at Vanitas.
"What is with you? You know the rules. Sora would never survive the ritual. We mind as well put him out of his misery." Vanitas smirks.
"Sora..." Sora looks up to see Ven standing in front of him. His shoulders are slumped. His clear eyes slowly change back to the blue that Sora knows. "Don't...Don't be afraid of me. I would never hurt you. You're my friend...you're my family. I'm still your family too...right?"
Sora is scared but he wants comfort. Sora stands up and hugs Ven tightly, burying his face in his shoulder. "I-I'm confused Ven!" Sora sniffles when Ven hugs him just as tightly. It brings him comfort. "You killed that man but...the man was really scary and...you guys felt scary...but you're still my family!"
"I know you're confused. It's okay Sora." Ven rubs his hand through his hair. The tears just fall more. Ven feels like the Ven he knows but Sora can't deny that there's power hidden that he has knowledge of. In this small body of an eight year old is power that Sora has never seen before. "He was a monster...and we had to get rid of him to protect you. We just want to keep you safe-"
"Oh please. He's about to die." Vanitas chuckles darkly.
"Shut up." Riku snaps, shoving Vanitas.
"Can you not handle reality anymore Riku? I thought you were rational."
"Why is Vanitas saying I'm going to die?" Sora pulls away to look at Ven. Sora doesn't like the pained expression he sees.
"Sora...it's really bad that you saw us...that you know we're not human."
"If you're not human...then what are you guys?" Sora looks at Ven before he looks at Riku and Vanitas who are staring at him. Riku with this conflicted look while Vanitas seems to be having the time of his life.
"We are called Occisor." Riku answers when Ven looks more and more upset.
"Sora...I don't like seeing you scared. I don't want this to change anything between us...I..." Ven seems to be in distress. Sora grabs his hands out of habit and it must have been the right choice because Ven calms down.
"You're still my best friend. I don't care if you're a Occisor...even though I don't know what that is...I'm just a little shocked. You guys are so strong and...you ripped that guy a part..."
"It was needed to kill him. He was a vampire so we had to rip him apart and set him on fire or he would just heal."
"V-Vampires are real? Oh no I invited him in!" Sora's eyes widen when he realizes this.
"Yes, you did. But it's okay. I was able to sense him quickly. I'm just glad he didn't hurt you." Ven smiles gently.
"Terra and Aqua are home." Vanitas smirks before he shoves Riku off of him and takes off running out of the forest. Riku growls and runs after him.
"He's going to tell them..." Ven says more to himself before he looks at Sora. He grabs his hand. "What ever happens...You're my brother."
"I'm your brother." Sora agrees though he's not sure why Ven looks like he's about to cry. Sora knows he doesn't like it. Ven holds his hand, interlacing their fingers. He holds it snugly and Sora feels like if Ven held his hand anymore tightly it would be painful.
"It's going to be okay." Ven says quietly as he starts to lead Sora out of the forest.
Only with Ven being so still does Sora realize how much he's shaking. If not for Ven, Sora is sure he would have fallen down. He can't walk straight. He can barely think. Sora feels like time is going slow as he walks out with Ven.
He can see all his family members standing outside of the house. Aqua and Terra stand with solemn expressions, surrounded by an upset Roxas, Axel, and Riku. Vanitas is smiling big.
Sora knows that doesn't look good for him. If Vanitas is happy and everyone else looks like...They're at a funeral, it's bad. Sora can't stop his chattering teeth and now Ven is holding his hand painfully. Sora isn't able to tell him that it hurts.
"Sora..." Aqua's voice isn't filled with warmth. There's pity there and regret.
"We are to have a family meeting." Terra speaks firmly. "Everyone downstairs to the basement."
Riku doesn't look at Sora as he follows after Terra. Roxas and Axel seem to be avoiding eye contact as well. The only one who is looking at him is Vanitas who seems to be smirking at him, those eyes still gleaming white.
The home is no longer filled with cheer.
Sora is lead by Ven down into the basement. He's never been here before and it smells strange. Like chemicals and dirt.
Sora sits down at the table, and he's surrounded by his family...the ones he found out aren't human but something else. Aqua hands him a cup of warm milk that she made him. Sora has to let go of Ven's hand to take it, and he hates how much it shakes. Some of it spills on the table but soon he's able to drink it.
Surprisingly it's calming.
Aqua also places a blanket over his shoulders which makes him feel more secure. Ven hugs him-
"Ven maybe you should give Sora some space." Terra gives Ven a look.
"N-No it's okay." Sora quickly hugs Ven back when the blonde looked like he might cry. There's something very fragile about Ven and Sora doesn't want to be the one to break him. Sora doesn't care if he's not human. He's his family. That won't change. Sora is starting to get to his senses anyway.
Ven is the only one who is staying close to him. Everyone else is keeping their distance.
"Now...Ven I want a report of what happened. All I got from Vanitas was that Sora saw." Terra locks eyes with Ven who takes a deep breath.
"A vampire showed up. Sora was outside at the time and we had no clue. Sora invited the vampire in and he was starting to control him...I was able to sense him fast enough before he harmed Sora. I told Sora to stay behind and we all went after him...Sora came after us and he saw us destroying the Vampire and...what we are." Ven swallows. "It wasn't his fault. I should have stayed with him-"
"No. You know when there's a monster and we're not home you all stick together to kill it. You did the right thing Ven." Terra looks at Sora who bows his head. "...I'm not angry at you Sora. This just makes things a bit more difficult."
"I explained to Sora that the man was Vampire and what we did we had to do..."
"Do you know what we are Sora?" Aqua asks, moving a bit closer when Vanitas moved to get a better look at Sora's distressed expression.
"You are Occisors?." Sora remembers that was the term Riku used. "But I...I don't know what that is."
"I didn't expect you to." Terra seems to gather his thoughts. "Occisor are hunters. That is the best way to describe us. Occisor are hired to kill monsters and other such things that have brought damage to the world. Occisor are no longer human but they use to be. Everyone here use to be Human Sora. We were turned into Occisor. It was all of our choices to become like this...well for the most part." Ven gets stiff next to him.
"How did you turn into this Occisor?" Sora can't help to be curious. Monsters are real? And Occisor are the people who beat them? Sora remembers being scared to look under his bed because he believed there was a monster there that was waiting to grab him and drag him under...
"There's no such things as monsters baby." His mother had said with a smile...He can remember the voice but not how her face looked.
But monsters are real. And Occisors are the ones who protect the world from them. Sora's young mind has been blown once more.
"There is a compound that turns Human's into Occisors. It goes through your veins and changes the cells of your body. It makes them resistant to death and more flexible. Stronger. It's like a cancer you can control. But just like Cancer, not everyone makes it out alive. The compound has been known to kill many humans who couldn't handle the transformation." Terra's brown orbs get distant. He's not looking at Sora now. "And once you are a Occisor that doesn't mean you're strong enough to fight against monsters. You must train day and day again. You must gain knowledge and your strength. Being a Occisor is a hard life."
"But you defeat monsters!" Sora's change in attitude catches Terra off guard. It catches all the boys off guard but he doesn't see it. Sora's tears have dried. He's looking at Terra with wonder. "You've Saved me! Monsters are real and...if there was a monster under my bed, you guys are the ones who would have beat it!"
Terra's wide eyes slowly go back to normal and he lets out a soft laugh. Aqua is smiling at him now and somehow the mood seems lighter than it was.
"Ven, Riku, and Vanitas saved me from that Vampire... Occisors are heroes!" Sora beams over at the boys. Ven's face gets pink, Riku averts his gaze and Vanitas looks like he's disgusted.
"Heroes?!" Vanitas sneers. "You've got it wrong. We only kill for money. If that Vampire wasn't on our land, no one would have helped you. We are mercenaries."
"Still. You saved me." Sora looks at Roxas and Axel...He looks at all his brothers before he looks at Terra. "I...I don't care that you guys are Occisors. I don't care if you're not human. I just didn't understand what was going on but...You're my family." Sora says firmly. He's not sure why Aqua looks sad now. Terra has gotten stone like and the air heavy.
Vanitas chuckles darkly. "You don't get it. You're not apart of this family. You never will be with that human blood running through your veins. Your so called family is going to be the one to kill you. So let me do it Terra. Let me be the one to kill him. I found him. I can't wait to make him scream." Sora shivers when Vanitas' golden eyes seem to glow and the air gets much colder.
Axel and Roxas get in front of Sora, Riku uncrosses his arms, looking at Vanitas cautiously but he too seems conflicted about something.
"What does he mean?" Sora frowns, looking at Terra and Aqua who look very stiff.
"You see Sora...The committee of Occisor have strict rules. No humans can know about us. If a human is to find out what we are...We are either suppose to get them to become one of us or..." Terra trails off when Sora's big blue eyes are staring at him, soaking in all his words.
"You see Sora, this home is more than a place for children who have no where to go. As Occisor, we can't have our own children and well...we wanted to have some. We have been accepting many who have no place to go and then we turn them into Occisor. We get them ready for transformation so that we can stay a family..." Aqua explains quietly. "All the children we've had have been ready for the transformation but you..."
"We have doubts that you would be able to survive the transformation." Terra says simply. The boys look to the ground anywhere but Sora when his shoulders slump. "But...But I can not harm you." Riku's eyes widen and he looks at Terra. "...I will not destroy you. You are my son. So...we can take you back to where you were found. We can take you to a place that will take you under their wings-"
"You can't! You are saying you're going to go against the committee." Riku swallows thickly.
"They'll have your heads." Vanitas sneers. He looks amused. Ven says nothing and neither does Roxas.
"If you do that we'll all be in trouble." Axel says slowly.
"I will not kill him. Aqua and I have talked about it. We are going to send him back with the humans-"
"No!" Sora shouts, getting all the boys to be quiet who were about to jump in. "I don't want to go back! I told you! This is my family now!"
"But Sora you don't' understand...If you stay here we would have to either kill you or turn you. You very well might die if we try to turn you-" Aqua explains gently.
"I don't care. I would rather be dead than go back to where I was!" The room goes still. "I...This is my family. I don't want to lose you guys. So if I have to be a Occisor to stay here, then I will...if I die, I die. I don't want to lose my family again." The words hang heavy in the air. Sora can feel the lump in his throat so he swallows it down.
"Sora..." Ven hugs him tightly once more. He blonde is trembling.
"...You would be giving up your humanity." Terra says quietly. "If you were to survive you could never go back."
"You wouldn't be able to have kids of your own. It makes you sterile. You would live much longer than normal humans. We would be your permanent family." Aqua warns. She's whispering. She looks like she might cry.
"That's okay. I want to be with you all." Sora gives them the strongest look he can.
"You're probably going to die." Vanitas walks closer, smirking at him. "I's going to hurt like hell. It would be such a painful way to die-"
"Vanitas." Riku growls.
"It's the truth. What are you shaking for? You scared for Sora? Or you excited to watch him suffer and die?" Vanitas grin is cat like.
Riku doesn't answer. He sets his jaw.
"E-Even if I die. Even if it hurts...I don't want to be alone anymore. You guys are my family. It would be okay if I die because...I've got to meet all of you. I got to be warm again." Ven hugs him tighter and his shoulders shake. Sora thinks he's crying but he's not sure.
"We're going to bury you in the backyard like a dog-"
"Vanitas!" Aqua screeches this time and Roxas shoves him.
"Shut up." Axel snarls. All the boys are getting worked up over this.
"Hmpth." Vanitas doesn't look too happy but he smirks at all the concern and worry in everyone's faces. He feeds off of their fear.
"I want to do this. I want to be like you." Sora swallows once more. Terra stares at him for the longest time before he takes a deep breath and nods his head.
"Then...I will prepare the compound. Aqua...Help me." Terra gets up reluctantly and Aqua immediately walks with him, whispering worriedly next to him as they leave the room.
"Sora...are you sure about this?" Roxas gets next to him, those blue eyes the most serious he's seen them.
"Yeah...They're really not joking. You could die." Axel adds in, frowning.
"Would you stop saying that?" Ven snarls, peering up from Sora's shoulder, giving the both of them a dark look. "He could live. I don't want to hear about him dying. You keep saying it over and over again. It's not going to happen-"
"Ven you have to accept it and Sora needs to know what he's getting into." Roxas gives his brother an even look when he glares at him.
"I know I could die..." Sora says quietly. Ven hugs him tighter.
"You're not going to die." Ven retorts.
"Sora you're going to die. It's going to be so painful. You're going to wish that you were torn apart instead." Vanitas' words are silk. Riku has moved as far away from the others as he can. His arms crossed and his face blank. The only thing there is the furrow of his eyebrows.
"Stop it Vanitas!" Ven screams, standing up, gripping his fist. His face pink from his anger. "Stop saying that! Sora is going to live! Just like we all did!" Ven turns his rage filled eyes from Vanitas when he spots Sora shiver. Concern is written all in his expression as he grabs Sora by the shoulders. "You're going to be fine Sora."
"Ven you can't just tell him that. Everything might not be fine." Roxas says slowly.
"Shut up!" Ven screams, getting everyone's eyes to widen.
"Hey now, calm down." Axel gives Ven a stern look.
"Geez i've never seen you so worked up. I can't wait to see the look on your face when he dies. When his face is frozen in agony." Vanitas coos. Ven grinds his teeth. He looks like he's about to punch Vanitas so Sora quickly grabs him by the wrist. He stops and turns towards Sora. That anger fades to something much more painful.
"Ven." Sora says and it's all he can say right now. He gives him a smile and hopes it gives him some encouragement. "It may hurt really bad. I may die-" Ven looks like he's about to protest. "But I want to live. I want to be with you all." Sora looks at each and every one of his brothers, even Vanitas. "I've had a lot of fun." Sora turns from Ven and gives Axel a hug, his green eyes widening.
"I won't forget watching movies and playing games with you." Sora gives a hug to Roxas who stiffens up. "Roxas, I won't forget sparing with you and all the fun times we had. You were a strong opponent." Sora pulls away. Roxas had been stoic for the most part but when he pulls away from the hug, he can see those blue eyes are watery now.
Sora walks over to Riku in the corner. He had been staring at the wall, away from them. When Sora gets close he glances at him. Sora smiles and quickly hugs him before he can push him away. "I had fun catching frogs with you. I won't forget how strong you are. I still plan on beating you some day." Sora pulls away. Riku's eyebrows are scrunch up in a wince. It's the most expression Sora has ever seen on him.
"Don't you even dare." Vanitas snarls when Sora got close to him.
"I really won't forget you Vanitas. You may be mean most of the time but I will never forget what you've done for me." Sora gives him his brightest smile. Vanitas eyes flash before he bares his teeth at him.
"And...I will never forget..." Sora turns to face Ven who is staring at him with his lower lip shaking. "You Ven. You were the first to accept me. You really made me feel at home. I'm really glad...so don't be upset Ven. I'll do my best to stay with you." Sora hugs him last.
Ven sobs. His shoulders spasm violently. "T-Then why are you acting like you're saying good bye to everyone?! Sora you're going to do fine. You are." He says firmly at the end, his shoulders stop there shaking.
Sora pulls away, smiling when Ven cups his cheeks. Sora does the same, leaning his forehead against his. "Of course."
Axel hugs Roxas when he started to tear up, Riku is looking down to the floor with a strained look, and Vanitas looks like he's getting annoyed.
"Everything is ready Sora. Come to the back." Terra comes out. Sora pulls away from Ven to follow after Terra. Ven clings to him, all his other brothers following. Sora feels himself swallow when he takes in the intimating black leather chair that looks like something you would find in a dentist office...except it has restraints. There's also bags of strange glowing liquid hanging near the chair with other instruments.
Sora feels his hands shake. Ven is mumbling something to him but Sora can't hear it now. He feels the fear and it's getting his knees to quake. Vanitas words are going through him.
'it's going to hurt. You're going to wish you were dead'
"Look how scared he is!" Vanitas sneers. This comment gets him a punch from Roxas, Axel, and Riku. "What the hell?!" He snarls, looking most surprised at Riku. Riku gives him a cold gaze in response.
"It was terrifying for us all.' Riku growls. Hearing Riku say that makes Sora feel a bit better. Everyone was scared. It's normal to feel scared. Sora takes a deep breath before he climbs up into the chair.
"We have to strap you down for this..." Aqua starts to play with Sora's hair as Terra gets to work on restraining his arms to the chair and strapping his legs down. "We have to give you a needle so we can get the chemical in... "Aqua explains as Terra puts something tight on his arm. Sora knows what he's going to do when he feels him tapping his arm. He turns his head so he doesn't have to look. He hates needles.
"Ow." Sora tenses up when he feels the sharp pain.
"It's done, you did good." Terra praises. Sora looks down to see a blue catheter in his arm now. Sora nods at the praise. He smiles when Ven gets by his side to grab his hand.
"It's fine. It's okay." Ven mumbles, looking at him with such big blue eyes.
"This is your last chance Sora. If you don't want this, tell us now." Terra locks eyes with Sora, getting to be his level.
"I want this." Sora says with as much bravery as he can, not looking away from Terra's intense gaze. Sora is scared. He's terrified.
But he never wants to be alone again. He wants to truly be one of them. He wants to have his family.
Terra takes a deep breath before he nods his head. "Aqua...start the infusion."
Ven squeezes his hand tightly. He gives him a big smile but it's not reaching his eyes. Those blue orbs are pools about to leak. "We're going to have so much fun together once you're an Occisor! We'll never be a part!-"
It started out feeling like a itch. A very strong itch that flows through his whole body. Then that itch becomes a burn.
Sora arches his back, his mouth opening as he lets out a scream of agony. If not for the straps he feels like he could break his own spine. All Sora is aware of is the flames in his veins and the sound of his own screams. His vision is blurry with tears.
This pain...it's nothing that Sora has ever experienced, nothing that he ever thought could be a reality. It feels like he's melting. His body keeps trying to curl into itself, as if he could crawl out of his own skin and be free of this torment.
Sora can hear voices. One is screaming next to him, almost rivaling his own. Soon there's more screaming and loud voices. Sora feels pressure on his body, as if something is holding him down. All he feels is pressure. Are they hurting him? Are they just touching him? Sora can feel the pressure of Ven's hand still in his.
It feels like he's breaking his bones. Sora welcomes that pain compared to the burn.
"P...l...ease!" Sora gasps out, feeling his tears fall down his face. He's begging for this to stop. He's begging to not hear his family's screams anymore. He feels Ven's tears. He can sense their panic.
The pain starts to fade away, going towards the back of his mind. It's like he's no longer in his body...but floating. Now there's only darkness. He hears voices but he can't make out what they're saying.
"Sora..." The young boy turns towards the voice, seeing his mother smiling at him. She holds out his hand. She's like a pillar of light in this dark cave. "It's time to come home."
Sora can only stare at his mother, his heart caught in his throat. It's as if time is standing still.
"Sora!" Ven screams, squeezing Sora's hand as if that would stop the brunets thrashing. Aqua can only keep the infusion going, even though everything in her wants to stop when she sees the small boy's tears of suffering and she hears those screams that make her stomach twist in such an unpleasant way.
It seems Ven is trying to over power Sora's screams with his own. She knows her son doesn't know what to do.
Soon enough Roxas is over taken by the emotion from both Sora and Ven screaming and he starts to join them. He grabs into Sora's arm, trying to hold him down. Axel grabs onto Roxas before he yells with him. Riku's expression turns into a wince, his pupils trembling as he watches Sora's struggle. He doesn't yell like the others but he moves closer and grabs Sora's leg, giving it a harsh squeeze.
They're all trying to give comfort in their own ways. The way all the boys yell with Sora, it's like they're trying to share his pain. They all know how this feels. They all know the agony.
It takes everything in Aqua not to throw Vanitas across the room when she sees the smirk on his face. He watches everything with those golden eyes filled with glee. Such an evil being, such a-
"Aqua we're losing him!" Terra's voice snaps her out of her thoughts. She feels her heart sink when Sora's body has gone still and the monitor shows a flat line. This is what she feared would happen.
"Sora! Sora come back!" Ven screams, tears falling down his cheeks into Sora's face as he grabs him by the shoulders and starts to shake him back and forth.
"Ven get off!" Terra shoves him back as Aqua quickly makes up the adrenaline shot before injecting it into Sora's blood stream. There's some waves but it's not something Sora can live with. "I need to defibrillate him. Roxas hold your brother back!"
Roxas is shaky but he grabs Ven and pulls him back. Axel grabs Ven's other arm when Roxas was having trouble holding the hysteric Ven back.
Terra quickly puts the pads on Sora's chest. "Everyone stay clear!" Terra pushes a button. Sora's body jerks from the electric current going through his body. It didn't work. Sora's heart rhyme hasn't stabilized.
He is dying.
"I told you he would never make it." Vanitas chuckles darkly.
"Shut the fuck up." Riku snarls. This being the most he's said since they started. He gives Vanitas a look full of darkness. Vanitas raises an eyebrow, his smirk growing.
"Oh? Is something wrong Riku? You're looking pretty unstable."
After another shock, Ven breaks his way out of his brothers' grip to throw himself on top of Sora. "Come back Sora! I said we'd always be together! Don't leave!" Ven wipes the tears that had leaked from Sora's eyes. "Come back! Come back!" He keeps yelling. Roxas and Axel are having trouble with pulling him off.
This isn't looking good. They can shock Sora all they want but it he doesn't respond to it...he will die. They knew this could happen. They didn't want to think of this possibility. Sora is going to die. Aqua can feel her hands shake as she hears Ven scream at Sora.
"Sora!" Aqua is a bit startled when Riku suddenly shouts. It was like he was shouting at the boy for doing something wrong.
Roxas and Axel pull Ven off once more. Terra gives Sora a final shock.
The heart monitor stabilizes. Sora's chest raises and falls gently. His body has stilled.
Aqua and Terra just stare at Sora. They can't believe it.
"Sora?" Ven gets out of his brother's hold, pulling his head on Sora's chest. He smiles, clenching Sora's arm. "He's alive! He made it!"
"...Let's see." Terra moves closer to Sora. He opens Sora's eye, spotting the white orb peering through. No longer the sky blue. "It worked..." Terra says in disbelief. All the other brothers are speechless. Even Vanitas is quiet.
"Why isn't he waking up?" Ven's joy seems to settle down when he sees that Sora isn't getting up or responding to him.
"His body has been through a lot. He will need time to heal. Much more than you guys needed. We will set him up with a room..." Terra opens Sora's eyes again, looking at the dull white.
"How long will it take?" Roxas asks.
Terra stares at Sora a bit longer before looking at Aqua. She is still holding her breath. Those dull white eyes tell her more than she needs to know.
"We don't know how long it will take. He may never wake up." Aqua speaks the words that she knows they didn't' want to hear.
The battle isn't over for Sora.
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