"Hey Sora, after training do you want to play in the forest with me and Roxas?" Ven leans over Sora's shoulder to look down at the psychology book he's reading.
"Yeah! I should be done after I do some sparing with Terra. Today's list wasn't so bad." By list Sora means the book of things the counsel gave him to do everyday.
For ten years Sora has been following the book strictly and during these ten years his free time has been close to none. After school with Aqua he always has to do extra studying and teaching with Terra. Then they have to train, away from his brothers. Then of course there are days where they have missions to complete so he gets a break from the book on those days and gets to spend time with some of his brothers. Some days there's something strange written in the book like they want him to eat odd foods from different universes and Terra has to record how he responds.
So far Sora's only gotten sick once from one of their experiments but it was pretty bad. He was throwing up for a week and didn't have the strength to get out of bed. Everyone was so worried about him...he still smiles when he thinks of how his brothers took care of him. Ven and Riku did a lot for him. Roxas couldn't stand the smell of throw up with out throwing up himself so Sora told him he didn't want him helping. He didn't want to cause him trouble, it still made him feel warm that Roxas cared.
Today he doesn't have much to do except for reading this book and then his intense training with Terra but it shouldn't take all day. The idea of spending time with his brothers is making his pulse spike with excitement.
"Good! I've been missing my Sora! It's been too long." Ven hugs him tightly. "It's important for kids to play too. You need to have more breaks."
"I'm okay Ven." Sora nuzzles his head, smiling when he feels Ven's warmth not only on his body but in his heart. Ven's longing is clear to him. Just as all his emotions have been clear since that day that they linked. It's like whenever Ven touches him or is near, Sora feels a bit stronger, feels a bit nicer.
Sora asked Ven if he felt the same way and he responded with a quick nod, amazed that Sora had described what he couldn't.
"I'm glad that i'll be able to spend some time with you too Roxas. It's been a really long time since we've got to hang out." Sora offers the twin a smile. Roxas returns the smile.
"It has. I blame Ven. Anytime you have any time he's hanging off of you."
"I-I can't help it!" Ven protests.
"Hey Riku! Axel!" Sora calls when he sees the two older boys talking about something, walking towards the living room. Riku stops shortly and turns his gaze on Sora. "After training do you want to play in the forest with us? I'll have some time off today!"
Riku's eyebrows furrow and he looks disappointed. "Sorry Sora I can't today."
"Aw why not?" Sora slumps.
"Because after training we have to go to this stupid puberty class thing." Axel grunts, not looking amused.
"Puberty?" Sora tilts his head. His eyes widen in realization. "Oh! I remember hearing people talk about that before! That's what happens when you grow up right?"
"Yeah. We're both thirteen now which is the age that Occisor start to go through puberty. I suppose they want to give us a heads up on what to expect." Sora noticed the crack in Riku's voice there. That's been happening a lot recently. Every once in awhile Riku's voice would crack and get lower, now it's happening more frequently...same with Axel. Sora thought they were getting Sick but when he asked Aqua about it she did mention puberty..
"I wonder if Aqua is going to try to give us the sex talk." Axel smirks. "Can you imagine her trying to do that? Or worse, Terra?"
"What's Sex?" Ven asks, getting everyone to look at him.
"You don't know what Sex is?" Riku raises an eyebrow.
"We hadn't gone over the subject." Ven narrows his eyes when Riku looks smug over knowing something he doesn't.
"Um...Ven, sex is something married people do for babies." Sora says with confidence. His mother told him so when he overheard some older boys talking about it and had asked her what it meant.
"oh god he's so innocent." Axel groans.
"Sex isn't just for married people. Anyone can do it with anyone if they wanted to. You can do it out of lust, or love, or both." Sora and Ven look at Roxas with wide eyes.
"Roxas how do you know so much about sex?" Ven points a finger at his brother.
"Axel taught me about it."
Everyone looks at Axel who rubs the back of his head. "Well...I was telling him this story once and he didn't get what I was saying when I told him my dad kept having sex with these...women." There's bite to the word. "So I explained what it was. I was exposed to sex at a very young age so I know all about it. I don't need a class." Axel averts his gaze and grumbles.
"Wow...I didn't know you could do it with someone you're not married to." Sora is still astonished. "But...isn't it bad to do that?"
"I don't think it's bad if you like the person." Roxas says with a shrug when his brother looks at him. Sora catches that Axel and Roxas make eye contact soon after only to quickly avert their gazes.
"But how do you do it?" Ven questions, those blue eyes filled with curiosity.
"You'll just have to wait for your puberty class." Axel teases.
"I wanna know now." Ven grumbles.
"So you guys can't hang out with us today." Sora gives Riku a smile when he looks at him. "That's okay. We'll find another day to hang out."
"Yeah." Riku hesitates, lingering for a second before he walks out towards the living room. Axel pats Roxas on the head before he follows after Riku.
"It feels like Riku and Axel are growing up so fast."
"That's just because they were changed two years older than us." Ven huffs.
"I'm sure Axel would tell us what they talked about if I asked him too." Roxas smirks to himself.
"Yeah! You can get Axel to do anything!" Ven cheers. "Do it brother! Make him spill!"
"I can't get him to do everything." Roxas smirks ."But yeah, almost anything."
"Roxas you're dangerous." Sora chuckles. "I think you're Axel's one weakness."
"Ya think?"
"WE know." Sora and Ven say at the same time. The three boys laugh. Ven gives him a kiss on the forehead goodbye and Sora hugs Roxas. They're going off to their training now...
Sora needs to finish this chapter but now he has no desire to read. He wants to play with his brothers.
"That was a lot of fun." Sora can't stop his giggling. He's covered head to toe in dirt, just like Ven and Roxas are. It started to rain so they decided to play in the mud and wrestle a bit.
"Yeah we stayed out pretty late." Roxas laughs when Sora sprays him with the hose playfully, cleaning him off in the process.
"I didn't want it to end." Ven groans. "I don't want to do tomorrow."
"Stop complaining." Roxas grunts, watching as Sora sprays Ven next, getting him to laugh. The two start to fight over the hose. "I'm going to go inside and clean up. See if Axel is free yet." Roxas walks into the home, dragging water with him.
Ven watches his brother leave before he leans closer. "Hey Sora do you want to take a bath with me?"
"Hm?" Sora blinks before he smiles. "Sure! It's been awhile since we've gotten to bathe with each other." They use to do it when Sora first came here. They've just been so busy lately...but Sora would like to share a bath with Ven once more.
"Yeah! Lets go to the one downstairs." Ven interlaces their fingers as he leads him into the house and down the stairs.
"We'll have to clean up the water..."
"We'll deal with that later." Ven waves him off, leading him into the bathroom. It's the fairest one away, no one really uses this bathroom...Sora can tell with how clean it is. They take off their clothes, the heavy material falling to the floor with a 'flop'. Sora's teeth chatter, hugging himself for warmth as Ven gets the water going.
Once the tub is full, Sora slides himself into the hot water, sighing pleasantly. "This is the best after being cold..."
"You can say that again." Ven slides in next to him, the two boys sitting side by side. Sora cups the water, spilling it between his fingers. Sora had, before they gotten into the water, caught a glimpse of Ven's body. It's so strange. Sora has been here for 30 years yet their bodies have barely changed. The only change Sora sees in Ven and in himself is that they're a little taller and their muscles more defined.
If Sora was still human, he would have been 38 years old. Sora wonders if he would have survived that long, and if he did survive, what would he have done with his life? Adults get jobs and get families...its hard for Sora to picture him having any of that.
"Sora..." Sora blinks when he feels a wet, warm hand on his chest. He turns his head to look at Ven who's lean closer. "You're thinking hard about something again. What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong." Sora puts his hand over Ven's. "I was just thinking about how strange it is that we don't age really. I was just thinking of...what I would be doing if I had never become an Occisor." If Vanitas never found him...
"You would be a lot older that's for sure." Ven thinks to himself. "...You know I wonder what I would be like if you never came...I wonder how this family would be like. I feel like it would have ended up being a lot sadder if you never shown up." Ven frowns.
"Me too. I'm sure I would have been lonely. I may have just died from starvation before I even became an adult. It's not like I would know what job I want...but with being an Occisor I don't have to think about that. When I become an adult, i'll be doing this too. Going on missions and helping people. I think...this life is a lot better."
"Me too." Ven lays his head against Sora's. "You know just thinking about the possibility of you not being here...if things had been different...it makes me upset."
Sora can feel it, the uneasiness twisting Ven's stomach. Sora nuzzles his head and he can feel that unease loosen.
"Well i'm here. There's no point in thinking about what ifs. I'm here and I'm here to stay."
"I wouldn't let you leave." Ven shakes his head. "I'd fight even the counsel to make sure you can stay with us!"
After that conversation, the bath gets much more comfortable. The boys take turns washing each others hair and telling stories of missions they went on with the other brothers. By the time they get out, Sora is all soggy.
"Ven!" Sora laughs when Ven shakes his hair like a dog, splashing him with water. Sora does the same but Ven is already out the door with a towel wrapped around his waist, snickering.
"What? I'm just drying off." Ven bats his eyes innocently.
"Yeah sure." Sora huffs, covering himself up with a towel before running after him.
"You need to dry off better too Sora." Ven uses the towel he was drying his hair with to rub Sora's head. Sora lets his brother dry him off, giving him a smile.
"Thanks Ven."
There's a throb.
"A-Any time." Ven smiles brightly.
They travel up into their room to get some clothes to sleep in, walking into the sight of all his brothers sitting on their beds, talking about something.
"You both came out of the shower at the same time? What you do take one together?" Axel teases when he sees them both with matching towels...also the matching scent of shampoo.
"Yeah!" Ven says in full confidence. "But it was a bath, not a shower."'
Sora doesn't understand the little bit of shame he feels when his other brothers look at him. Especially Riku. Those aqua eyes are filled with dislike.
"Now that's just crossing the line." Riku stands up from his bed. "Sleeping together is one thing but bathing together? Sora you should know better."
He felt that blow.
"What are you talking about? Whats wrong with us taking bathes together?" Ven stands his ground, glaring at Riku when Sora looks down.
"Riku don't get all bent out of shape about it. They're just a bunch of kids." Axel grunts. "I use to take showers with my brother all the time...well that was because my dad couldn't 'afford' for us both to get a shower but still. It's not a big deal."
"That was a situation where you had to. There's no reason for them to bathe together-"
"I use to take baths with Ven." Roxas adds.
"You're brothers by blood." Riku presses.
"Alright, lets be honest here, Ven you do touch him too much. You sleep with Sora, bathe with Sora, give him kisses...I'll just come out and say what's probably got Riku all up his butt. He thinks you're funny for Sora."
"Funny?" Ven raises his eyebrow.
"Gay is the correct term." Riku's gaze is sharp. "I think you like Sora like you should like a girl. Sora is too nice to push you away and you take advantage of that."
"How should I like a girl? I've barely been around any girls except Aqua. I like Sora a lot and I don't see what the problem is." Ven glares at Riku when the older boy scowls.
"Maybe he's too young. Aqua and Terra really need to explain a lot to him. I'd just let it go for now. He'll probably stop when he realizes what being 'gay' for Sora really means." Axel puts a hand on Riku's shoulder. Riku shrugs his hand off, that scowl staying on his face.
Sora can't add anything to this conversation. He's keeping his eyes closed and trying to breath through Ven's and Riku's clashing emotions. Riku's is stronger...envy and anger wrapping around his heart and hurting him.
Riku thinks Ven likes him like a girl? But Sora isn't a girl. They were just bathing together because they're brothers and it's fun. Sora didn't know you could like a boy like a girl because...well a boy isn't' a girl. Sora isn't sure what that means either. Maybe when he's older like Riku he'll know.
"Never mind that." Axel waves his hand, Roxas scooting closer to him. He's already dressed and everything. Roxas has been quiet. "Gather around, I was just about to tell Roxas about how stupid that class was."
Sora hurries up and throws some boxers on and a shirt before he sits next to Riku. He's relieved when Riku doesn't look at him meanly but moves some to make room for him. It only gets tense when Ven sits next to Sora as well.
"So they pretty much told us that puberty is much more intense as an Occisor and that we might have trouble with handling our 'desires'" Axel uses air quotes. "Said we'd get even more aggressive and want to break the rules more. Then they went into detail about how sex works and let me tell you they gave the driest explanation. I have to admit though I wasn't expecting them to actually try to teach us how to masturbate."
"Masturbate?" Sora questions.
"You know rubbing on your dick-"
"Axel." Roxas hits him in the side when he sees Sora's face explode with color.
"He's going to learn about it soon." Axel grumbles, rubbing his side, looking at Roxas like he just stepped on a puppy.
"Why would you...rub it? Wouldn't that hurt?" Sora questions.
"Nope, it feels good. Real good. They even gave us lube so that we could jerk off! I'm not sharing though Sora you'll have to wait to get your own-"
"Gross." Roxas's expression flattens.
"D-Don't call me gross! I'll share with you Roxas if you want some-"
"Gross."
"Roxy..." Axel whines, getting everyone to cringe.
"So...you got some stuff too? Are you going to do that Riku?" Sora turns his eyes to lock onto Riku's. It's a new territory for Sora. Ven looks just as perplexed.
"I don't know. I will if I have to. If these desires can really get 'that bad'." Riku shakes his head. "But as of now, no."
"Not only did they give us lube but condoms for sex too! They said they don't encourage us to have sex but it seems like it to me. They're giving us everything we need!" Axel goes off again.
"F-For sex?" Sora's eyes widen. His mother taught him it was for marriage...or at least someone you love. "I-"
"Who would you guys have sex with?" Ven blinks.
"Anyone we meet in other worlds I guess." Axel shrugs his shoulders, those eyes looking over at Roxas. Sora feels a strange feeling in his stomach and it's making him squirm. Axel's staring seems more intense...Sora's never felt this emotion before.
"I wouldn't recommend that." Roxas doesn't' return his gaze.
"Y-Yeah it shouldn't be done with strangers!" Sora adds.
"Well the only people who aren't strangers are you guys." Axel grunts.
"Just get over it. You probably won't be using those condoms." Riku smirks when Axel sends him a glare.
"Uh I will be using them. I'll get myself a girl the next time we go out." Axel grunts. "With big blue eyes and blonde hair-" Axel stops.
"I doubt that."
"So do I." Roxas gets off of the bed. "I'm ready to go to bed now. We have a bunch of stuff to do. Axel you coming?"
"uh yeah." Axel rubs the back of his head before he stands up and walks to the bed they've been sharing. Even when they get into bed together Axel doesn't move as close as he normally does.
Sora still feels that squirming and he's not sure what to do with himself.
"Let's go to bed too Sora." Ven grabs his hand and leads him. Sora lets him. As he lays in bed, his back to Ven, he kicks his feet restlessly. Ven wraps his arms around him from behind and nuzzles his back, relaxing till he's asleep.
Sora can see Riku in the dark. When Sora stares at him too long those aqua eyes open half way, drowsy but sharp. Sora smiles at him. Riku returns it. His smile twitches when he sees Ven's arm wrap around him tighter. Riku turns his back to him and must go to sleep.
When Sora can't sleep he starts to have thoughts...thoughts of curiosity. He wonders what it would feel like to...touch it? Like Axel was saying...he said it felt good but how good? Is it okay to do that?
Sora bites his lip and forces his eyes closed. It feels like he shouldn't do it but the idea is in the back of his mind. The seed has been planted and watered by curiosity.
"Sora and Axel you will take the mission in universe 980. They seem to be having a problem with killer plants."
"Why do I always get stuck with the killer plant jobs?" Axel grumbles as he takes the file.
"Because your fire is so effective against them. It's a easy job for you."
"Hey I think this is the first time me and you have had a mission together alone." Sora smiles at Axel, trying to lift his brother's spirit. Axel just scowls when he sees Roxas has been paired with Ven and Riku.
"Yeah. I guess it is the first." Axel thinks for a moment before he grins. "I get to see what you've been working on Mr. 'special one'. I want to see some of that light."
"O-Oh well i'm still working on it but-" Sora wants to get somewhere. He knows he can command light, he summoned it before. He's been training strictly for 12 years. Sora needs to show something for it. "I'll show you my light Axel!"
Axel blinks at Sora shouting at him.
"Well damn you didn't have to yell."
"I want to see your light Sora! Do you really think you can now?!" Ven jumps in excitedly.
Sora opens his mouth.- "I don't think so. He still needs a lot of training. Don't do anything reckless trying to summon your light Sora. Your safety is number one." Terra cuts him off.
"But..." Sora tries to protests but he doesn't know what to say. Tera's look has gotten sharper and his patience has been thin lately. Sora can't help to wonder if it's because of him, because he's not progressing like he should.
"Leave out as soon as you can. Sora must be back by tonight so we can continue his training tomorrow."
"Yeah, yeah I got it." Axel grunts. "It won't take me long to deal with these stupid plants."
Ven rushes over and hugs Sora tightly, placing his head against Sora's chest just as he does all the time. He feels something throb between them and Sora feels that strength once more. It's like Ven's concern and love have become his own.
"Ven it's an easy mission you don't have to hug me." Sora chuckles. "I'll be back in no time. You should be safe too."
"I will!" Ven lets go.
"Roxas, Riku be safe!" Sora waves to his other brothers. Roxas and Riku nod.
"Ugh lets get this over with Sora." Axel glances at Roxas who meets his eyes for a moment before he looks away. Axel's frown is soon replaced with a glare. Sora feels the heat of anger as he follows after Axel into the supply room. He can no longer feel Ven...all he feels is fire and it hurts.
"Axel...are you okay?" Sora asks watching as Axel stuffs things into a back pack with more force than needed.
"I'm peachy. Make the portal would you Sora?"
Sora does as he's told, his eyebrows furrowing. "Axel I can feel that you're angry, it feels like my insides are being burned. What are you angry about?"
"Leave it alone." Axel's teeth grind and that fire becomes stronger.
"I can't leave it alone when you're feeling like this. I'm worried-"
"I don't need your worry. Just go." Axel shoves him into the portal. Sora gasps when he felt those burning hot hands on his flesh. They burnt right through his clothes. He can feel the sting of damage and boy does it sting.
Both inside and out.
When Sora lands on the other side into the other universe he just stays still for a moment, not wanting to move his shoulder that he knows has been fried.
"...Sorry. Shit." Axel comes out after him, the portal closing. He glances at the hand print he left on Sora...at the burnt and flaking off flesh. He closes his eyes and lets out a deep breath. "I...I didn't mean to hurt you like that."
"I know." Sora glances over at his older brother. "You're not a bad person Axel. You wouldn't hurt me for no reason."
Axel's shoulders relax, the fierceness of his eyes have dulled down. "Damn it. I can't control my power as well anymore. Every little thing sets me off into a rage recently and it burns. My body reacts without my command and I...I wish this puberty thing would just end. It's a real pain in the ass."
Sora has noticed that Axel has been getting angrier recently. He's also noticed that Axel and Roxas aren't around each other as much and when ever they are in the room together, one of them will leave...usually Roxas. Sora hasn't seen Axel and Roxas much in the past two years but he can tell that the bond he's sensed between them has been shaken by something.
"...Were you angry because of something with Roxas?"
"What makes you so sure it's Roxas?" Axel grunts. After a moment of staring at Sora's unmoving gaze he rubs the back of his head.
"Because I've noticed that you two aren't as...close as you usually are."
"That's an understatement. It's like we've gone back to how we use to be-" Axel stops. He glances at Sora. "You've been so busy with your training these past two years, i'm surprised you noticed anything. I've only seen you a handful of times."
Terra took Sora to train at another universe without his brothers. He got some free time to go back to see them but most the time he'd miss them. They were either on missions or recovering from them. The one he was able to see the most was Riku...Riku always found a way that they could meet at the cave every once in awhile.
Every time Sora saw Ven, he would just hold him for the longest time. They would both fight tears.
Sora hated the last year. It was horrid. He trained so hard without progressing. Terra injected him with many solutions that the counsel gave him. Most of them made him nauseous. Some made him stronger. And some of them felt like they would kill him.
Sora shakes his head, not wanting to remember that. It's over now. He's back with his family. Terra promised they didn't have to do that anymore...and he swore him to secrecy to what was going on. Though whenever Ven would look into his eyes, he would always weep. He always said 'why did it hurt so much' with his hand on his chest.
Sora wonders if he could feel his pain...or if he was just weeping because he missed him so much. Sora could only feel his longing and his desperate need for companionship.
"...What did I miss while I was gone?" Sora takes a deep breath.
"Not much. You just missed Roxas going nuts...He got pissed at me for no reason." Axel grips his fist.
"What did he get angry about?"
"He-" one of the trees moves suddenly, its bark breaking to reveal a mouth it uses to screech. "I'm talking right now!" Axel snarls, flames coming out of his body, burning the tree down in seconds. "What was I saying..."
"Why is Roxas mad?" Sora's mouth stays open from shock...Axel has gotten so much stronger.
"...During one of my missions, I caught the eye of a woman in that universe. She was older, wasn't the prettiest thing ever but she had golden blonde hair..." Axel closes his eyes for a moment. "I thought this Occisor puberty thing was a joke but it's not. It's been hard. I'm hit with random feelings of lust and it consumes me. My hand isn't enough every time I look at him-" Axel stops, his eyes widening like he said something wrong. "...I got rid of my desires in that woman that day. When I came back, Roxas was there. He could smell the woman on me. I decided to brag but that was the wrong move. Roxas got pissed and now he just wants to ignore me."
"...Maybe Roxas is just worried...I don't know much but isn't it bad to do that with someone you don't know?"
"I don't care if it's bad. I was never one to follow the rules but Roxas..." Axel sighs, snapping his fingers when more trees start to come alive. He burns them alive with a flick of the wrist. "...calling me disgusting and looking at me like that, he's the one who's gone too far. You don't know how hard it is. You're still just a kid but you guys will feel it too and then Roxas will understand. You get weird thoughts."
"What kind of weird thoughts?" Sora frowns when Axel kills all the enemies without him doing anything. That was a really easy mission.
"Weird thoughts...you know. No you don't." Axel sighs. "It's strange talking to you about this. You're too innocent."
"...Maybe you should say Sorry to Roxas."
"For what?" Axel's eyes narrow. "He's the one-"
"Roxas wouldn't be acting like this if he wasn't hurt or upset. Maybe you should just talk to him."
"You don't think i've tried?" Axel pulls his hair back. He looks...so exhausted. "I just don't get it. It just makes it harder to control my rage. I'm already at my limit and then I can't be around him..." Axel's body sets on fire, anything around him burning.
"Maybe I could talk to Roxas, see what's wrong for you...I can try to help to get you two to talk." Sora offers, wanting to get rid of the burning in his insides.
The fire around Axel slowly starts to decrease till it's gone. He glances at Sora, really looking at him. "...will you?"
"I will."
The staring contest they seem to be having is interrupted by a beeping sound. Axel and Sora both pull out their pink crystals. They're beeping and lighting up.
"What's happening?"
"This is the emergency signal. Someone is calling us back to home."
"Emergency?! Do you think something happened to our brothers?" Sora didn't feel anything from Ven...is it because they're so far away? Or is it because Axel's anger has over taken his senses?
Axel's eyes widen. "Shit, Sora we're heading back. Fuck the money it wasn't much anyway." Axel makes a portal with his glowing crystal, both not wasting time to jump in. Sora closes his eyes, trying to focus outside of Axel's anxiety and his own. He's trying to feel Ven.
It's not working...why can't he control it? After all this time? Is it because of the distance? Or is Sora really that incompetent?
The portal leads them into the living room. Axel's eyes are immediately on Roxas, who's sitting in the corner. But Roxas is unharmed.
"Ven, Riku what happened?" Sora rushes over when he sees that both of his brothers have been damaged. It doesn't look too bad. Riku has a busted lip and a cut on his arm. Ven is bleeding out of a wound to the head but that's the only damage Sora can see on him so far.
Ven's expression brightens when he sees Sora, but when Terra narrows his eyes at him, he averts his gaze.
"That's what we all want to know Sora." Terra stops Sora from hugging either of his brothers. "They're not to get any affection till they talk."
"Talk about what?" Sora blinks, looking over at Ven and Riku. Riku is glaring at the wall while Ven is fiddling with his fingers, a stubborn pout on his face.
"Roxas called an emergency because Ven and Riku got into a fight during the mission. Now that they're here, Ven and Riku don't seem to want to talk."
"A fight? Why did you guys get in a fight?" Sora's eyes widen, looking at his brothers. When Ven looks at that Frown, he stands up.
"Riku started it!" Ven points at Riku. "I didn't do anything and then he just hit me."
"I don't think Riku would just hit you Ven..." Sora frowns. Riku looks at him then. Those intense eyes seem to soften.
"But...But he did!" Ven glares at Riku. "Tell him the truth."
"I have nothing to say." Riku leans back in his seat.
"Roxas why don't you tell us your side of the story? You haven't spoken at all." Terra turns his attention to the one who is staring at his hands as if they are interesting.
"...I didn't see all of it. All I know is that during the mission I turned to see the fighting. I can say Ven is the first to use his powers though. That is why I called the emergency. Riku followed soon after."
"Ven..."
"Riku attacked me first! He's just been...he's..." Ven is getting frustrated. "He keeps saying things like I should keep away from Sora and that I shouldn't be taking baths with him and he keeps saying that i'm not doing what's good for Sora...it just really makes me mad!"
"I can say that Ven was talking about Sora a lot during the mission. Every time the tension seemed to grow till I guess they had a fight." Roxas sighs when Sora's eyebrows furrow. "I can say with confidence the fight started because of Sora."
"Riku." Terra's sharp eyes lock on the boy to explain. "Did you start the fight with Ven? Over Sora?"
Riku glances at Sora before locking eyes with Terra. "I did."
"Why?"
"You should teach Ven better. He keeps crawling into bed with Sora and now in the bath when he can. They're too old to be doing such things."
"Bathing and sleeping amongst family isn't a bad thing. Aqua and I use to bathe with Roxas and Ven when they were smaller-"
"Key word is smaller. We are not family by blood. Ven and Sora shouldn't be taking baths together their age."
"Riku are you still hung up about that?" Axel raises his eyebrow.
"Tell me Riku, what are you worried about?" Terra questions. This gets Ven to look at him, those blue eyes much sharper than usual.
"I'm concerned that this 110 year old man will take advantage of Sora." Riku says it with a flat expression.
"Ven is a 11 year old child. Despite how many years he's been on this earth. Ven loves Sora, he wouldn't do anything to hurt him." Terra's tone has a bit of bite. He's offended.
"Yeah I love Sora!" Ven rushes over to hug Sora tightly.
Riku's eyes narrow considerably, his teeth grit. "You say this because he is your favorite. Would Sora still think of him as a 'child' if he knew he's the same one that killed all those-"
"Riku!" Terra's voice drops.
Sora jumps not only from the tone but from the shock of panic that just went through Ven. He's scared. Sora feels Ven lock up and he can no longer read him as well as he was. But Sora saw something. Right before Ven clamped up, he saw a picture.
Dead bodies everywhere, staring at him with glassy eyes, blood painting the pavement...
Now that Ven has withdrawn from him, all Sora can feel is his own racing heart. A line has been crossed. Terra Is staring at Riku like he wants to hurt him, like he's an enemy...Roxas and Axel are frozen with disbelief.
"Say another word and you will be punish. You know better than to bring that up."
Riku clicks his tongue. He walks out of the room swiftly, not giving anyone a second glance. The room is left heavy with his absence.
"What is with that boy?" Terra mumbles to himself.
"I guess we're not finishing our missions." Roxas kicks his legs, those blue eyes shifting over to Ven.
"...Axel would you go with Roxas to finish up their mission? I'm going to have a chat with Riku."
"..." Roxas's eyebrows knit together to show his displeasure but he gets up anyway. He doesn't look at Axel as he walks past him and makes a portal. If Axel wasn't close behind, the portal would have closed on him. Terra leaves the room in a huff, leaving Sora and Ven together.
"...Ven?" Sora tries to look at his face but he turns his back to him.
"Sorry...I think I did something to the link we had. You feel...so much more distant now." Ven laughs softly.
"It's okay...you were really scared." His shoulders tense. "...The link isn't something to be forced. I'm not going to try to look into your heart when you don't want me to. I don't think that's what this power is for. It only works if you..." Have faith. During that scare, Ven had lost faith in Sora. "..Want it to."
"I do want it to work! It's just...um..." Ven rubs his arm, his shoulders slumping.
"Ven I don't know what you're scared about but...i'm here to help. If you need me."
"I know." Ven turns around, his smile barely present. He grabs Sora's hand, gently interlacing their fingers. "Let's...take a nap together. I think I need some sleep after all this."
"Sure. I'll take a nap with you Ven." Sora smiles. Ven's expression grows a little brighter. By the time they're snuggled up in bed together, and Ven's arms around him...he can feel the other boy relax.
Sora sinks into the rhyme of his heart and yet...he knows he's still locked out of it. Sora wishes it doesn't but it hurts somewhere in his chest. He feels weaker. He feels...
Empty.
"Have you seen Riku?" Sora says as he walks down the stairs, watching his step not to fall.
"Nah." Axel takes a sip of coke that's in his cup. He sits at the kitchen table, those green eyes much duller than Sora's use to.
"...Where's Roxas?" Sora asks cautiously.
"Don't know. He ran off after the mission. He wouldn't talk to me, again."
"Y-You're catching on fire."
"Just thinking about it burns me up." Axel snarls. "I'm going to go cool off. Literally." he marches out of the house, leaving Sora alone.
Ven is still upstairs taking a nap. He looks so tired...so Sora won't wake him up.
Sora searches the house for Riku or Roxas. When he can't fine either he decides to travel to Riku's cave. Whenever Sora can't find him...he's usually there.
"Riku?" Sora yells once he's in the world with the cave. He can't move the sand so he hopes Riku is there to do so. His eyes widen when the sand does move to reveal the stairs. Sora runs down the stairs, calming down once he's inside the cave.
Riku is sitting in his usual spot in the middle, drawing something on the wall with chalk. There's not much space on the walls anymore after all the years of Sora and Riku being in here together. Drawing their dreams and other things that came into their young minds. The whole cave is decorated with drawings, each one a fond memory he has with Riku.
"Hey..." Sora walks over to sit next to his friend. Riku stops his drawing...it looks like he drew a wolf. Sora is a bit surprised by this but he doesn't say anything. Not when Riku's intense gaze is on him.
"Sora." He opens his mouth, a gasp escaping his lips soon after. A bead of sweat falls down his cheek and he grits his teeth. "Damn."
"Riku what's wrong?" Sora's eyes widen from the change in the other boy.
"..." Riku closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. "...I can't say want I want to. Terra has branded me. It won't last forever. Though he has also threatened me to keep my mouth shut." Riku pulls up his sleeve, showing Sora a red circle marked into his skin.
"Why would he do that to you?" Sora touches the mark, Riku doesn't show any signs that it hurts.
"Because he doesn't want you to think ill of Ven. But he..." Riku thinks. "He is a wolf. I don't trust him the most. After all these years I consider you to be-" Riku chokes on his words when he sees those big blue eyes staring at him so intently. He averts his gaze. "...like a f-friend. If there's anyone I can trust Sora..." He locks eyes with him. "It's you."
"Are you saying you trust me?" Sora's eyes widen. He hasn't even registered what Riku said about Ven.
"...Yes." Riku says the word like it's sacred. Sora reaches out and touches him, it was reflex, instinct.
Just like that Sora feels Riku inside of him and he feels himself in Riku. His heart is before him and has opened...They are not linked. Because Riku trusts him...he has faith. It doesn't feel like Sora has gotten into the deepest parts of Riku's heart...like there's something there blocking his way...something like darkness.
Either way... Sora feels much closer.
"Was that just now...your power?" Riku lets out a breath he must have been holding.
"Yes... did you not like it?"
"I don't mind it. It didn't hurt...it's a little unsettling and you've seen to have gotten stronger."
"I think it's because you have faith in me. It...made me really happy." Sora smiles giving him a hug, listening to his heart...each beat is like a pulse of power in Sora. "Hey Riku...it's not as lonely right?"
"For once..." Riku holds him back. "I agree with you."
They stay like this for awhile till Riku lets him go. "That's why you have to be wary of Ven...I won't let another wolf take anything from me."
"Ven wouldn't do anything Riku. I've been inside of his heart! There's nothing bad about it-"
"Are you sure? Have you seen everything?" Riku presses.
The picture of those dead bodies flash through his mind.
"I..."
"I trust you now, trust me Sora. Ven is not good news. He acts innocent but he is no child. You shouldn't be so close with him."
"But...Ven is my brother! Riku I do trust you but I also trust Ven! I can't just distance myself from him..." He's done it himself.
"You can if you wished it." Riku growls. Sora feels it. The darkness in his heart is gathering.
"But Ven he-"
All of the sudden, it floods forth.
"I'm just trying to protect you!" Riku snarls, grabbing Sora by the arms and pressing him against the cave wall. Those aqua eyes burn dully.
"Riku...you're hurting me." Sora winces from the pressure on his flesh. Riku is so close that his breathing can be felt on his nose.
Those eyes gain light back and he lets go quickly. "Sorry..." He averts his gaze before taking a deep breath. "I don't know what came over me."
"You care about me...I know Riku. If you trust me, trust i'll make the right decisions. Ven's heart...I may not know all of it but I know he has no ill will against me. You have nothing to be worried about."
"...Okay." Riku settles but Sora can still feel how tense he is. He's not happy.
"What were you drawing here?" Sora touches the wolf on the wall. He's curious about it. He's sure Riku would never have drawn a wolf on one of his favorite places.
"It's a reminder."
"Of what?" Sora knows Riku has shut off from him again. Sora huffs when Riku is silent. "Let's draw some more Riku. I want to finish up the pirate story we started."
Riku stares at the wolf a moment longer before he glances at Sora. When he sees the soft smile he's given...his lips turn up.
"Sure. Let's finish it Sora."
"Sora! Sora! We've been assigned a mission together!" Ven nearly knocks Sora over by pouncing on him. He's all giggles and laughs. The joy virbates through to Sora and he can't help to laugh out loud.
"Really? I can't remember the last time we were on a mission together...who else are we with?"
"No one! It's just me and you! This has never happened! Terra trusts me with you!" Ven hugs him tightly, squeezing every now and then. "It's a simple mission but...i'm so happy."
"I can tell." Sora smiles. It's true. He can feel it through his soul. Even though Ven isn't linked with him like he was before, Sora is still very close to his heart. There's a part of Ven's heart that Sora will not tap. He will not disturb if Ven doesn't want him there.
Sora feels like if he really tried, he could steal that part of him. He could open him up even if Ven didn't wish for it. But Sora would never do that.
The young Occisor in training is now 12 and a half. Sora has trained hard. He's put his blood and sweat into learning how to control his power of light. He couldn't tell you if he's progressed much. Sora can feel Terra's disappointment. If there's anything that's grown, it's Sora's ability to feel out people's hearts and to feel their emotions. Even when he doesn't want to.
Sora has tried countless times to summon his light to use it as a weapon against his enemies like he did with the witches but...he can't. He always has to rely on his swords to protect him. He can't call forth the light.
Terra...he must be getting nervous. Sora wonders if he's not able to control the light, if the counsel wll get angry with Terra. There's this tense air between them that he hates.
Sora doesn't like disappointing him. He wants to do good. He tries...he tries his hardest. Sora has been keeping up in school and with his studies along with training and missions. But as long as he can't control his light, Terra will not be pleased.
If not for the rare moments he gets with his brothers, or with Riku in the cave, or with Ven in the forest...Sora doesn't know if he could do it.
Sora never remembers being this weak. Years of counsel's book have worn him down. He's starting to feel his age.
"When you're done with that stupid book we can head out! I was thinking while we're out anyway we could explore, maybe buy some things with the money Aqua gave us. It'll be a lot of fun. It's been a really long time since it's just been you and me." Ven nuzzles his head against Sora's. "I want to make it worth it."
"That sounds...nice." Sora knows he has a few more chapters. He closes the book and smiles brightly at Ven. "I'm done. Let's go on the mission."
"Yay!" Ven gives him a smooch on the cheek. "What are we waiting for?! Lets go get our stuff!" Ven grabs Sora's hand, pulling him up. He starts dragging him towards the supply room. He's starting to talk too fast like he does when he's excited. "The mission is in universe 2. They want us to find this ruby thing in this cave...we're getting paid pretty well for it! It shouldn't take long either! In universe 2 they have this carnival going on right about now and I've heard they have really cool rides-"
"Ven take a breather!" Sora chuckles when his brother had gotten flushed. Sora spots Riku talking to Axel in the kitchen as they walk by. "Bye Riku, Axel! We're heading off for a mission."
"See ya Sora. Keep alert, you look half dead." Riku waves, giving him a teasing grin but there's some truth in the way those aqua eyes shift.
"Heh, even like this I still can kick your butt." Sora retorts, Riku's smirk growing.
"Keep dreaming Sora."
Ven pulls Sora along, so Sora returns his smirk with a grin of his own. He can already feel the twisting of his stomach and how Riku's smirk falters. It always gets like this when Sora's with Ven.
Riku and Ven still haven't worked through their problems. They can't go on missions together without something going wrong. They try to stay away from each other but they both seek Sora out.
Every time they're all together, Sora feels like there's a volcano that's about to erupt. Sora doesn't know what to do about it. He's gotten closer to both Riku and Ven. He can read them so well and he's linked to them both.
Sora frowns when Axel just gives him a lazy wave. Speaking of problems. Axel and Roxas haven't made up. They keep their distance and when Axel tries to get close, Roxas won't hesitate to fight him. Sora has tried to talk to Roxas for Axel...He didn't have much luck. Roxas was locked from him, and the more he tried to understand the more Roxas disappeared into himself.
Axel has become indifferent. He never wants to do things with the family and he never makes his curfew. He's even been thrown in Terra's jail for a bit for stealing the money he made from his mission.
Sora knows that if he could amend Roxas's and Axel's relationship, that Axel's mood would be lifted. Everything would be restored. He just doesn't know what to do. Whenever Sora tries to bring it up, Roxas is quick to avoid his questions.
It's not like Sora's been able to see Roxas and Axel much either.
"Axel needs to get it together." Ven mumbles under his breath as he starts to pack their bag of supplies. "He's looking worse off every day. You'd think he's much older than he is."
"It's because of how the relationship with him and Roxas are now." Sora speaks quietly worried about Axel's super hearing.
"Yeah I know but..." Ven bites his lip, those blue eyes getting glossy. "...I guess I have no room to talk. If you were to treat me like Roxas is treating Axel..." He trails off. He blinks. "U-Um..." He quickly zips up the bag and gives Sora a strange smile. "I wish I could help them but...i just don't know how. I don't even know how they got close in the first place! If we knew that...maybe the same thing would work to get them back to being best friends."
"If we knew how they got close?" Sora rubs his chin. Maybe it would work. If Roxas could remember why he was close to Axel in the first place, maybe it will soften him up or he'd be able to forgive Axel for...whatever he's done. Roxas doesn't hold a grudge for nothing. Sora knows that behind that indifference and anger towards Axel, there's a whole lot of hurt and loneliness. "...When I get the chance I want to talk to Roxas."
"Good luck. Believe me I've tried talking to him about Axel and whats up. He just gives me the cold shoulder. I'm worried that if I keep trying to push him...we'll go back to being how we were. I don't want that Sora. I don't want to lose my brother again." Those eyes lower.
"Then leave it to me. If Roxas gets angry with me and starts ignoring me too...then I guess it can't be helped. I won't give up. I don't want to feel their pain anymore. It hurts me every time I come into the house. It lingers in the air...and it weighs me down. I want to...help them."
Ven turns his full attention on Sora. He takes in how those big blue eyes are filled with dreams and hope. They shine brightly, determinedly. His small lips in a tight line, showing his resolve. Ven's lips twitch up and his eye lids lower.
"If there's anyone who can fix this mess. It's you Sora." There's a throb. A surge of power goes through Sora's veins.
"I-I'll try my best." Sora flusters when Ven beams at him.
"You're glowing again! That power is random huh?I can feel it though...this warmth in my heart. We just got closer together didn't we? Do you understand how it works yet?"
"Um...sort of. I think when a person has faith in me, I get stronger...I can also look into the hears easier and their emotions are much more assessable." Sora won't mention that he also knows when there's a block to that link. There's still something that Ven is hiding, that he doesn't trust Sora with.
"I see...I guess I'm making you stronger then!" Ven seems pleased by this concept as he takes out the pink crystal and calls for the portal.
But even with this strength...
Sora pushes the thought aside as they're transported to the universe of their job. It doesn't take long for them to find the person who hired them, a young elf boy of five. His story is that he heard there was treasure on top of the mountain.
"I'll pay you the fee for your service with the jewels you find but...please don't steal the rest. I know you're much stronger than me. I know that I'm making you find your money because I have none but please...if you can bring this treasure to me, I can take care of my family. Those with money get the best medical treatment and get to live in places with plenty of food and shelter. We can live on the other side." The elf boy fiddles nervously with his fingers.
Apparently in this universe, these elven people have divided this place in half with a wall. On one side, the people live in paradise with no cares. On the other side, the side this young boy lives on, they are all poor, ill, and weak. There land is barren and their homes falling apart.
Sora feels everything ache in him. He can sense the greed from the other side and can feel the abandonment of this area.
"Okay. I get why you want it but tell me this. Why not go and get it yourself?" Ven asks coolly, his expression nor his attitude changing by seeing the horrible state these people are in. He's use to it. This isn't the first time for Sora either. It probably won't be the last.
This gets the boy's shoulders to tense. "...Well...the mountain is said to be cursed. No one who goes in the mountain comes back so...I..." The boy's strange purple eyes don't meet theirs. "Occisor are super strong right? So you two will be okay? Even though you're so young...you don't look old at all...maybe you guys should call an adult Occisor?" There's doubt in him.
"No adult Occisor could do it better than us." Ven huffs. "We'll be just fine. Curses don't scare us right Sora?"
"Right. We'll get that treasure fore you." Sora smiles to reassure this child. He's worried about their safety. There is always many that would want them to die. Sora has found that there's very few that would care for an Occisor's well being.
This boy doesn't want to cause them any damage. He just wants a better life.
"Okay." The elf's lips start to twitch into what could be a smile. "J-Just don't tell anyone I hired you! They...they don't take that stuff well."
"Your secret is safe with us." Ven glances around at the elves that are walking listlessly. Their eyes are dull.
"Thank you Occisor!"
"Where is this mountain anyway?" Sora looks around, placing a hand on his forehead to cover the sun from his view. The land looks flat to him.
"It will be there. It only appears during the night." The elf points towards the large wall. "It's on the other side...but you two should be able to get in easily if you say that you're tourist. They love more money."
"Understood. I'm guessing we'll see it when it appears." Ven grabs Sora's hand, giving him a smile. "Alright. Let's start heading over there."
Sora nods his head. He gives the boy a wave as they walk towards the wall. Just as the elf said, as soon as they said they are tourist with money they let them in with no questions asked.
In this world, the grass really is greener on the other side.
It's bursting with life. Trees filled with fruit, farmland where all the eye can see...The houses are made nicely and the people are dressed fashionably. Sora can see a Ferris Wheel in the distance and everyone appears to be holding phones, talking quickly.
"This universe really likes ours. They like to copy our technology and other items. Things from our universe are bought at a high price." Ven explains as he interlaces their fingers, pulling him through the crowd.
"They're doing so well over here...why do they have this wall? It looks like they have plenty of money for the others."
"It looks like they send the old, weak, and ill on the other side to keep them away. It's how this side is doing so well. It's not a nice thing to do. It's evil but that's how this universe is."
"I hate it." Sora's stomach feels like it's doing flips.
"...I know." Ven stops to lay his head against Sora's, placing his forehead on his. "We can't save every world we see. There are things going on that we don't like but there's nothing to be done. Your heart is so big Sora. I think it may be too much for you sometimes." He kisses his forehead before pulling away, Sora blinking dumbly at the warmth of his touch. "So don't worry about it! Now we have some time before it gets dark so lets enjoy the carnival together!"
Ven pulls him along through the town. The people, or elves don't pay them any mind. "Everyone here has long white hair." Sora notes. The elves on the other side, their hair was short and dirty.
"All elves look like that." Ven's blue eyes light up when they reach the entrance to the carnival. The Ferris-wheel catches Sora's eyes first.
"What do you want to do? I'll pay."
"Ferris wheel!"
It's strange. When you're walking on the street, touching soil, everything looks so big. There's tall people, and buildings. It can be intimating. But when you're up in the sky, above everything...it all looks so small. People are ants and buildings look like toys. Sora wonders if this is how birds feel when they fly. They must be fearless when they're above the world-
His thoughts are broken by a soft stroke of his hand.
"Are you having fun Sora?"
"Yeah." The young boy turns to look at Ven. He's licking on the purple cream he got from one of the venders down below. It's like ice cream but a bit different is how Ven described it. Sora just isn't feeling hungry right now.
"That roller coaster messed up your stomach a bit. I thought you'd be use to drops and things from using the portal." Ven gives his a sheepish smile. "I still feel bad you threw up."
"Don't! I still had fun! I don't know why my stomach reacted badly...maybe it was the loops." Sora shakes his head. They're quiet for a few moments before Sora breaks the silence. "You know, I use to be scared of the Ferris Wheel."
"Really?" Ven peaks with interest.
He nods. "I would cry when ever I would get on one. I was worried that the cart would flip and we would fall. My mom would always laugh at me. Not meanly." Sora says quickly when Ven's eyebrows furrowed. "It was soft...like I was the most precious thing in the world. It always got me to go quiet. After awhile I realized that Ferris Wheels wasn't so bad. Nothing bad happened in them. When I finally could get on one without crying my mom looked at me and smiled. 'see, it's not scary.' she said."
"You remember a lot about your mom." Ven kicks his feet.
"I could never forget her. I'm glad that after all these years I still remember so vividly. I'm thinking about writing everything down just in case. We do live a long time."
"That's not a bad Idea. I hate to say it but I'm sure there's many things I've forgotten in the 1200 years i've been alive." Ven rubs Sora's first knuckle with his thumb.
"Tell me Ven, is there anything that's scared you before?"
"Hmm...Something that scares me..." Ven glances at Sora. "I...don't really know. What scares you Sora?"
"There's a lot of things that use to scare me. Like the Ferris Wheel. I use to be scared of the dark too and of really big ocean waves." Sora thinks to himself. "Those things don't scare me now...um...what scares me now..." Yellow eyes appear in the back of his mind. "...I guess it would be the unknown."
"The unknown?"
"Yeah...I don't know if I'm going to be able to master my element Ven. Terra is getting really fed up with me. I'm worried that when the counsel comes to see me, if i'm not to their liking...You guys will suffer. I don't want that. So the unknown...scares me the most."
"Don't worry about us. You're trying your hardest Sora. You'll get it! It just takes time. No one in the world- No one in all the universes has your element! You can't just expect to get it like that!" Ven snaps his fingers. "I think you're doing a wonderful job .Every day I see you working so hard, it fills me with determination to do better too. You're my inspiration Sora. Don't fear the unknown, I can tell you right now that you're going to do great. Just keep doing your best. You can trust me!"
"Ven..." Sora feels his chest tighten at his heart felt words.
"Enough with this serious stuff! Lets act our age!" Ven grabs Sora's cheeks, giggling when he pushes his cheeks together to make a fish face.
"quit it Ven!" Sora pulls on Ven's cheeks in retaliation. It soon becomes a contest in who can make the weirdest face. Sora wins but the victory isn't as sweet when Ven starts to tickle him.
The Ferris Wheel's cart rocks with their rough housing but neither boy notices.
"A mountain really appeared." Sora remarks in awe as he stares up into the night sky. The mountain looks like an omen. It hangs over the elven town like a shadow ready to consume or like a monster. The mountain feels like an insidious being, one that only comes with the darkness.
"Did you think he was lying?" Ven raises his eyebrow but Sora can tell he's just as surprised. "I guess it's time for us to work."
The two boys make their way up the mountain, working together to watch over one another so they don't fall. The height wouldn't kill them per say but it would damaged them greatly. Once they reach an opening to the mountain, they have to catch their breath.
"Aw man this isn't going to work. These flash lights aren't going to do much." Ven grumbles as he hands Sora flash light.
"We have night vision though, shouldn't it be fine?"
"Even with night vision, it's going to be hard. The mountain is black and that darkness...it's thick." Ven holds Sora's hand. "Stay close to me so we don't get separated."
Sora nods his head slowly, letting Ven lead the way for now. It's a good idea. There's something that is making Sora's heart beat faster and his stomach twist. This mountain...it's calling to him.
"Maybe this will help." Sora closes his eyes to the only light he can reach. His body admits a quiet glow.
"S-Sora! Your element! You're doing it!" Ven's eyes sparkle.
"No...this is all I can do." Sora's face flushes with embarrassment. "I can just light up a bit...it should help us see though."
"It's perfect! That's awesome Sora! Don't diss it! You're controlling your element! Just imagine what you'll be able to do in the future!" Ven's words get Sora's stiff lips to loosen up in a smile. That's Sora's hope as well. In the future, he'll be able to do much more.
But Ven is so happy with just this. It's nice, being looked at like he's not a failure. Ven appreciates this small ability. Unlike Terra. Sora feels a weight be lifted off his shoulder and he glows all the brighter.
"Yes! With you here we'll find that treasure in no time!" Ven tightens his grip on his hand. With a nod they advance into the mountain. Sora's light dissolves the darkness much more efficiently than expected. They are able to see with 100% clarity.
Inside the mountain is narrow and wet as if it had rained outside and the wind blew the moisture in...but there was no rain today and the mountain wasn't even here during the day. There's puddles and it smells like spring water. Sora wouldn't say it smells good. There's a hint of a foul odor that puts Sora's senses on high alert. It's trying to hide behind the calm aroma of the water but it's there.
The smell of rot.
"So far it's a straight shot." Ven comments as he touches the side of wet rock. "It seems too easy..." Just as he's saying this they come to a fork in the pathway. "...Anddd I just messed us up."
"Way to go Ven." Sora teases. He can feel his heart rate spike when he looks at the right path.
"I didn't mean to."He whines. "...We shouldn't split up. We'll just have to do ennie meanie mini moe and pick one to go down."
"What if we get lost?"
"If we come across another fork we'll come back and go down the path we didn't go down. I also got us rope in here so we could also use that."
"...I have a strange feeling about the right path."
"That could mean the cursed treasure is that way, or that could mean we shouldn't go down that way."
"What do you think?"
"mmm I'm going to let you pick. Whatever happens, we can handle it together."
That faith. Sora doesn't take long to make his decision.
"Lets go left."
"Left it is."
Sora lets out a sigh of relief as they head down the left path and his heart is able to slow down. The path stays narrow for awhile, the scenery never changing...It's like they're just walking in place.
"We've been walking awhile." Ven drags his fingers along the rock.
"Maybe this was the wrong choice?" Sora questions unsure.
"I think either choice would have ended like this. The mountain is just big. It doesn't want anyone getting that treasure."
"You talk like the mountain is alive."
"it feels like it doesn't it? It's even moving, like it's breathing."
"Ven...you're freaking me out." Now that he mentions it, it does feel like they're moving. Just ever so slightly.
"I'm just playing with you Sora." Ven chuckles, ruffling the younger's hair.
"Well don't! This place is already creepy enough!"
"Don't be scared! I'll protect you Sora!"
"I-I'm not scared! And I don't need protecting Ven."
"Even if you don't need it I'm gonna!"
"you haven't changed at all." Sora sighs but he knows he has a smile on his face.
"When it comes to you Sora I'll never chan-"Ven's voice cuts off. The hand that was tightly holding his is no longer there.
"Ven?" Sora whips around. He's greeted by the rock wall in front of him. He turns all around, looking for his brother but he's no were to be seen. He tries to sense him, to see if he can feel his fear or pain but there's nothing. It's like he just vanished. "Ven!"
A shock goes through him. Something pulling him to keep going deeper. Is it Ven? Is it his heart calling out to him? Sora takes off running, the glow to his body making it so he's able to see any sharp turns and evade crashing into the rocks.
At the end of the path it widens to a rounded room. And in this room is a treasure box. Small but Sora knows it's what he's been looking for.
"The treasure. Now I just have to find Ven...Where did he go?" Sora walks up to the chest, leaning over to pick it up.
"The mountain decided he wasn't worthy." Sora freezes. "It's funny like that. If the mountain doesn't like you, it sucks you up and spits you back out. Makes you sick too. You can't sense it because nothing exists except for what's in the mountain."
That voice...it can't be. It's not in his head. It's coming from being him. He's truly hearing that voice! The feeling he was having when he looked towards the right path way...It's tripled. His heart is beating so fast it hurts.
"But you sensed me didn't you?" He can hear the smirk in his voice. "I was going to have a little fun with you and Ven but you chickened out."
"Vanitas." Sora breathes his name. He turns around slowly, his eyes widening even more when it really is him. In the flesh. Vanitas' yellow eyes gleam at him, the smile on his lips crooked. He has grown in the years he's been gone. He's the same height as Sora, with the same black spikes, but for his young age he's gained muscle...and power. Sora can feel it in his heart and in his bones. Vanitas is much, much stronger than he was when he was back at the house.
"Where...Where have you been all this time? It's been years! We all looked for you and...Why...why did you..." Sora is tripping on his words.
"Your heart is a mixture of emotions. I like that fear though. You should fear me Sora." Vanitas chuckles darkly as he takes a few steps forward. "I was stronger than you before. Now im practically invincible. I've been training, soaking in the darkness all this time. I've been feeding off of you...and through your eyes and ears I've been able to learn of everything you know. I've laughed at your failures to work your element and took glee in your misery. Every little thing you've done and felt, it hasn't gotten pass me."
"I knew I felt you." Sora places a hand against his heart, thinking of all the times he heard Vanitas' voice or felt his presence. "Why-"
"I can't believe the counsel thinks that you could ever beat me. Terra knows you can't. That's why you make him sick." Vanitas smirks when Sora's shoulders tense. "Oh? Did I hit a nerve?" He chuckles. "You're a failure! After all this time all you can manage is being a flash light!" Vanitas snaps his fingers. A fist of darkness comes out of the shadows and punches Sora across the room. He hits his back hard on the rock wall, the air getting knocked out of him.
His light flickers before it goes out.
"Now it's just darkness. Tell me Sora, are you scared?" Sora catches his breath, looking around with his sharp eyes. It's not just dark, it's foggy. He can't see clearly but he can hear Vanitas moving closer.
"No, I'm not scared." Sora closes his eyes, trying to search deep in himself to bring the light back.
"Liar." Vanitas sneers. In the last second Sora is able to glow again. He dodges another dark fist before it pounds him into the ground. Sora pulls out his swords and with a battle cry he charge Vanitas. "Oh?" He pulls out his own large blade from off his back, blocking Sora's strike. "You're ready to go. Do you have hate in your heart for me?"
"IF you can feel my heart, if you're in there then you know I don't have any hate for you Vanitas." Sora grinds his teeth as he pushes against the other boy. "I may not be stronger than you but know this, i'm going to be the one to bring you back home!"
"Bring me back home? Are you an idiot?" Vanitas raises an eyebrow, jumping back when Sora swings with his other sword. "That place was never my home. Even if you somehow were to bring me back, they would put me to death."
"I won't let them! Vanitas you keep acting like you're a bad guy...but I know you don't hate me. If you hated me, you wouldn't have saved me all those times."
"You really are an idiot!" Vanitas hoots in laughter, a surge of darkness coming from him like a whip. It wraps around Sora's arms and lifts him into the air. It stings, it feels so cold. Sora can't use his swords like that. Vanitas slowly lowers him down so they're face to face. He grabs Sora's chin tightly, leaning close. "I told you before. I own you. I will decide when you die. Don't mistake my actions as kindness."
"Then why don't you just kill me then?" Sora glares at Vanitas, his words stinging more than this darkness.
"I don't gain anything from that." He states simply.
"Then why are you here? To mess with me? To get my hopes up...to hurt me?"
"This time i'm here to give you a warning and a offer." Vanitas expression gets serious. "Soon you'll be 13. Soon the counsel will come in to look at you. If you stay where you are, you're going to die."
"Why?" Sora locks eyes with those strange yellow orbs that seem to be able to stare right through him.
"You'll either die by the counsel because you don't meet their expectations. Or they'll find out your little secret." Vanitas lips curl.
"My secret? What are you talking about?"
"Occisor puberty is a hard thing but it's nothing compared to some other creatures. Puberty is when you mature into what you really are. It amuses me thinking about what would happen to you if the counsel knew but at the same time it would be a waste. That's why I'm offering you a way out Sora." He holds out his hand. "Come with me and be my pet. Do as I say and let me bring you pain. If you come with me, you will live. I promise you that. If you stay as you are, you'll die."
"I...I don't understand what you're saying. I'm not going to continue to be a disappointment. I won't give up on my element to the very end. I could never leave my family and I would never be your pet." Sora feels something in his chest that he hadn't before. Anger.
Vanitas' smirk grows. "It's already happening, the changes-" Sora kicks him in the chest, his body glows again and breaks the darkness chains on him.
"Your kind is feisty isn't it?" Vanitas sneers as he jumps back from Sora's attacks, using his darkness to smack him away again. Sora can taste blood in his mouth. "I'll spoil it for you since you want to be a brat." Vantas watches those blue eyes turn to him with fire. "You're no Occisor."
"Stop lying!" Sora yells. "Of course i'm an Occisor! What else would I be?-"
"You're not one of them. You don't belong. Not with Terra and Aqua. Not with your so called brothers. You belong no where. You have no where you can go to and fit in. You're an outcast. You are no Occisor-"
"Stop!" Sora roars, cutting through the darkness with his swords. He side steps a spike of darkness and jabs his sword, cutting Vanitas on the side.
"Such anger! But you know in your heart I'm right. You never were truly human either! Your whole life has been a lie!"
"How would you even know?! You weren't there! I was human! And i'm an Occisor! I went through the ritual you saw me-"
"I've been watching you for a long time."
Sora pauses in his attack, his eyes widening from that statement. "...How long?"
"Long enough. I know more of you than you do. Sora, Come with me and i'll tell you everything. The truth about yourself and your parents. Come with me and serve me. You'll never make it with those Occisor. You'll never make it so give me your life."
"The truth..." Sora swallows thickly, feeling nervous.
"Sora!" He hears Ven's voice calling him weakly.
"What will it be?" Vanitas sneers. " The mountain is about to spit us out."
"I..." Sora looks towards Ven's voice. Vanitas' eyes narrow.
"You really are a fool. If you don't give your life, i'll take it by force. Find the truth out yourself and suffer for it. I"ll laugh and rejoice in it." Vanitas throws his head back and laughs loudly. It resounds in his head and the darkness in Sora's heart squeezes tightly. Sora screams, grabbing his head, rolling around as if that could stop the agony.
He feels himself sink into the rock and then the wind is on his face.
"Sora! Sora! What's wrong?! Are you hurt?" Ven is on him quickly, looking at him with wide eyes of concern.
"No i'm..." The pain leaves him and he's left gasping for air.
"What happened in there?! The mountain just sucked me up and spit me out...and it looks like it did the same with you. AT least you got the treasure though!"
"The treasure?" Sora looks over and there it is. The treasure that was in the room with him. "...We did it." Sora finds himself smiling...
"...Sora what happened. Why were you screaming? What happened in there while i was gone."
Sora could tell him Vanitas was in there. He could tell him all the things he said...could tell him how much stronger Vanitas has gotten. If he tells him, Ven will call Terra and everyone will come looking for him.
"They'll put me to death."
Sora looks up at Ven's blue eyes. Those blue eyes that are filled with worry and love. It fills him with determination.
"Vanitas." Is all Sora says. Ven's eyes widen, the blue getting much darker.
He calls Terra right away.
"We searched everywhere. Vanitas is gone. He got away." Terra growls, hitting the desk in his frustration. He had called a family meeting after the search party came up empty. Many Occisor came out to try to catch Vanitas. No one could locate him.
Sora is a little relieved. He doesn't know why he told Ven. It slipped out. He doesn't think Terra would kill Vanitas but the other Occisor were already bragging about what they would do if they found him.
Sora doesn't want him dead. Vanitas confuses him and he seems to be no good for him but...there's many things Sora doesn't understand.
What did he mean by the truth? Why was he saying Sora wasn't an Occisor?...Why would he want him as a pet? Is Sora that entertaining when he's in pain that Vanitas just wants him alive for that sole purpose?
"Sora this comes from the higher ups. It seems Vanitas is targeting you. As of right now, you are not to go on any missions-"
"What?" Sora jumps up. "B-But I love going on missions! I'm fine, i'm completely safe-"
"No. You will not go on any missions. You are to stay here and train." Terra states firmly.
"All I do is train!" Sora yells. It gets quiet. His brothers all look at him in shock. It's the first time he's raised his voice. "...S-Sorry." Sora averts his gaze. "I...I already train so much. The missions are the only time I really get to spend with my brothers."
"...I"m sorry Sora. There's nothing I can do."
Sora feels that intense emotion in his chest. He bites his lip before he runs out of the room. He hears Someone call for him but he doesn't stop till he's in his bed and under the covers. He breathes heavily trying to keep himself calm.
His heart is racing and he can't settle down.
Just the thought of staying here everyday, training, never getting away from that book...it's enough to drive him insane. Terra didn't look the least bit sorry about it either.
"That's because he's not sorry." Vanitas sneers in his head.
"Stop..." Sora protests, burying his face in the pillow as if he could get away that way.
"Sora..." He feels Ven's presence before he spoke. "...Terra said he'll talk to the counsel with Aqua. Don't be sad."
Sora just cuddles more into himself. Ven takes a seat next to him and hugs him through the blanket. "I know it's hard. I want to be able to spend time with you too. More than anything! But...I feel like right now it's safer for you to be here. I don't want Vanitas hurting you or taking you away. If anything were to happen to you..."He tightens his grip around him. "Please don't hate Terra, Sora." Ven whispers.
"I don't hate him." Sora frowns when that came out sharper than he wanted it to. "I don't...I'm just upset Ven. I'm sorry."
"I know." Ven crawls under the blanket with him and holds him tightly. He runs his fingers though his hair. After awhile, Sora feels himself calm.
"I don't need to be kept here to be protected. I'm fine to go out." Sora says.
Ven doesn't respond. And the next day when Terra once again tells him no missions, Ven sides with Terra about it. Axel and Roxas don't seem to care. Riku tried to help Sora's case but it didn't matter.
Terra had the final say. Sora feels that intense emotion and he doesn't know what to do.
He doesn't remember feeling...this angry before.
Sorry for the wait! Thank you for the reviews!