AN: Yay, chapter numero three-oh lol! The chapter title has two meanings. xD One obvious, and two...also maybe obvious if you know Vexen well enough. :D I love making chapter titles as much as writing the actual story lol! :D


"Ven's Heart never left Sora! Sora left Sora! His Heart left his body and became a Heartless, and then I turned him human - but his body was left behind, and Ven with it! Ven was there all along, he never went anywhere!"

Aqua shook her head as they strode the plain white halls of Castle Oblivion together, brushing her hair back. "I think you're right, Kairi. I came to a similar conclusion."

"You did? Great!" Kairi giggled, a pleasant little noise for Aqua to hear. She smiled at Roxas, then suddenly reached out to ruffle his hair.

He startled, looking at her in confusion. "What did you do that for?"

"Because you're my kid - that's the kind of stuff parents do for their kids, so get used to it," Kairi told him.

"Xikira said the same thing - that because we came from you, that makes you our...parent," Roxas replied.

"It totally does, and she was right," Kairi grinned. "Buuuut this parent is still more than a little upset that she never mentioned you to me. We had so much time for her to slip in one little reference - and she never did! I mean, come on!"

"Hm..." Roxas looked away, frowning.

Aqua shook her head, rolling her eyes at the absurdity of the entire situation.

"It really does explain everything, though, doesn't it?" Kairi went on happily. "Roxas looks like Ven because Ven's Heart is still in Sora's body - which Roxas is also using, because he was a person born in that body. And he doesn't have memories because Sora kept his memories when I made him human again. So...technically...Sora has two bodies at once? Or something? Or, does a body of pure light count as a body-body? Is Sora flesh and blood, or is he something else? I've seen him sweat since Radiant Garden! And other stuff..." She giggled to herself, peals of laughter that echoed through the halls.

"Alright, why don't we not think too deeply about the mechanics of all of this," Aqua said quickly, her cheeks growing heated. "We need to focus on the task at hand. And on avoiding the Organization."

"I'd say we're doing an excellent job of that - no problems," Kairi said with a shrug. "They probably all left the castle after we beat the crap out of them and ruined all their plans. They're too terrified of us now to ever show their faces back here again-"

She froze as footsteps echoed further ahead.

"CrapwhydoIjinxmyself!" she hissed, racing off to the side of the hall to duck behind a pedestal with a flower pot on it.

Aqua stood in the hall, calling her Keyblade to hand, waiting.

Roxas stood uncertainly, looking between the two of them. "Wait, you're not going to-"

"ROXAS, GET YOUR BUTT OVER HERE, RIGHT NOW!" Kairi snapped out in a stage whisper.

"Why?"

"Don't you talk back to me, mister - HERE. NOW!"

"Okay...?" Roxas grumbled, striding off to crouch down with her behind the pedestal. "What are we doing down here?"

"Hiding from the Organization."

"Why? I have friends there. I don't need to hide from them."

Kairi stared at him, her mouth open. Then she closed it tight, her lips pressed together. "Roxas..."

"What?" he said.

Suddenly she put her hands on his head and yanked him forward, and she kissed his forehead. And she held that, held her lips to him. Then, finally, after a full minute, she let him go. "Promise me that you'll stick with us for a while here. Please. You can't go back there."

"Why?" Roxas said, still seeming dazed and confused by her kiss. But also, well...there was this flushed look of pleasure on his face too. A glint in his eyes.

"You-"

Darkness erupted from the floor behind Aqua, and then to her left and right. People emerged out of that darkness, in black coats.

Familiar people. One of them, at least, to Kairi.

She jumped to her feet and summoned her Keyblade, aiming it out at a tall man with long blonde hair. "Hey, you!"

"What the-?!" Vexen turned, staring at her with wide eyes. Then he looked to Roxas. His eyes narrowed, his lips twisting. "Roxas? So it's true then! You've abandoned us and thrown your lot in with the Keyblade heroine and her band of miscreants!"

"Hey, I didn't do anything, I just woke up and I was-" Roxas began.

"Save the excuses; I believe we all know the punishment for treason," spoke the cold, flat voice of a man with long blue hair and eyes...like Xehanort's? Or Xemnas's. Or - whatever! He had a big X-shaped scar on his face. And a huge weapon in his hand, held behind him.

"Don't be so hasty, Saix," Vexen said swiftly. "Was not Axel just ordered to retrieve Roxas for our Lord?"

"It's true, he was - but I don't see Axel anywhere nearby," The blue-haired man - Saix - replied. "That leaves only us, and what we do when we come across a traitor."

"We're not letting you kill him!" Kairi shouted, throwing herself in front of Roxas, holding her Keyblade up. "Over my dead body!"

Saix closed his eyes briefly. A slight smile came to his lips. "Well then...since you insist."

"And here I'd thought my eyes were deceiving me," spoke the third man - one with a strong, huge build and long dark hair styled into dreadlocks. "But the truth is plain to see!"

A sudden, powerful wind swirled around the man, and a dozen blue lances appeared around him in the air.

Vexen gazed at Kairi, then Roxas, and then...he laid eyes on Aqua. His green eyes glinted, and he raised a hand and summoned that huge shield of blue with spikes on the top of it. "Ignore Roxas and the little Princess! The subject of my latest project has brought herself straight to me! What fortuitous circumstances - why, one would say it is destiny!"

"We are not here to-" Saix began.

"You are here to assist me, as Lord Xemnas instructed, so you will assist me in getting what I need from this woman!" Vexen snarled out. "What do you think Xemnas will say if he learns you wasted the most perfect of opportunities in this World to fulfill the task he ordered of me?"

Saix blinked. He glanced at the man with the lances. Then, he gave a small nod. "Very well - Xaldin, we'll fight not to kill this woman." He turned his focus to Aqua, and he leapt at her with his weapon swinging!

Aqua raised her Keyblade to block him, shifting a foot back. A massive force of wind and power erupted when they clashed, sending Kairi and Roxas back against the wall. "Whatever it is you creeps want from me, you're not going to get it!" she shouted, narrowing her eyes at Saix coldly.

Saix regarded her with a flicker of surprise as he pushed back at her - and then was pushed back in turn by Aqua. "Hngh...Perhaps Lord Xemnas wasn't wrong in calling you a 'Master.' Your strength is impressive, for a woman of your age and stature. And it takes quite a lot to impress me, believe me."

"Allow me to further impress you, then!" Aqua declared. She threw out her arm, and a powerful gust of wind swept down the hall - picking up Kairi and Roxas and throwing them several feet away. Then, a thick, blue barrier burst in the hallway, cutting them off from Aqua and her three opponents. With that done, Aqua shoved out at Saix with a yell of exertion, then ducked under his massive weapon and twirled around the man, slashing him across the arm. She leaped up over his head, flashing a hand down to shoot a huge Firaga sphere at his feet. It erupted, blasting them both away. Aqua flew up into the air, surrounded by a tight blue barrier dome, while Saix flew across the hall to hit the opposite wall with a grunt, his body sizzling with smoke. Aqua aimed her Keyblade down at Xaldin for a few moments, then she swung it out and multicolored blasts of energy began to erupt, squirming and flying down for the man.

Xaldin twirled his lances around himself intricately, blocking Aqua's attack. Then he flew up for her with a lance in each hand, silver energy shrouding him.

Aqua darted forward twice in the air, heading straight down for Vexen. He raised his shield and adjusted his stance - but Aqua blew straight past him, landing in a low crouch. Then she spun around and lashed out with a Keyblade glowing with lavender energy, extending it by several times its actual length. Her attack slashed across Vexen's backside, causing him to cry out and stagger forward.

Aqua slowly rose to her feet again, her gaze flitting from the injured Vexen, to Xaldin, and to the now-recovered Saix. A small smirk crossed her lips as she held her Keyblade at her side.

"Consider me further impressed, indeed," Saix remarked, eyeing her warily now as he sidestepped Vexen and strode out in front of him. Xaldin moved forward as well, on Vexen's other side.

Aqua flew forward in an instant, thrusting her Keyblade at Saix and erupting with triple blasts of powerful Firaga blasts. The intense fireballs, like miniature suns, were fast-moving and tracking; Saix dodged, but they turned sharply and zipped after him, catching him in the ribs repeatedly, staggering him. Aqua raised her Keyblade to the sky, and a massive sphere of purple, swirling energy appeared. Saix was sucked up into the air, flying past the sphere to slam into the ceiling, face-first! Aqua darted up straight after him, from floor to ceiling, weapon ready.

Xaldin glided up beside her, thrusting several lances at her powerfully and swiftly.

Aqua was faster: she twisted to avoid one, then lashed out to plant a foot on another to redirect it harmlessly away from her. She caught another between her shoes and spun in the air with it, then kicked it with a fiery foot of explosive force, sending the lance flying out to slam into Saix's backside as he fought the force of that huge gravity sphere that was keeping him pinned to the ceiling on his stomach.

Saix gasped out as the weapon pierced him, and then he exploded with fiery blue energy, wiping away the gravity sphere and sending Aqua and Xaldin both flying back down to the ground again. Saix came down hard, shaking the hallway, his body shrouded in purple energy, his eyes glowing yellow. His weapon had changed, now with spikes on its end.

He flew forward with a raging fury, slamming his weapon down repeatedly into the floor, causing huge shockwaves of energy to ripple outward.

Aqua leaped up and flipped aside, planting her feet on the wall and then kicking off again, darting behind Saix, slashing him as she passed!

Saix barely flinched, unlike before. He whirled around and swung his weapon out, sending a wave of blue energy to strike Aqua and send her back down the hallway.

"Yes, more - show us what you have to offer, Keyblade 'Master!'" Vexen yelled out to Aqua, while standing well back from the fighting.

Aqua grunted as she skidded back down the hall and righted herself again. "If that's what you want," she retorted bitingly. She raised a hand swirling with blue electricity, and then she cast that hand out at her enemies! A powerful stream of lightning magic streaked down the hall, slamming into Saix and swirling around him - powerful lightning bolts piercing his body repeatedly, every second. Dozens, all over his form!

Saix struggled and thrashed where he stood, falling to his a knee, that purple aura flickering in and out, his eyes fading to normal-

Six lances flew for Aqua from afar.

Aqua dropped to her knees and leaned backwards, letting them fly past her. She sprang up and threw out a hand, sending a powerful Magnet spell at Saix. Her lightning trap swirled around the Magnet orb, intensifying and amplifying into a storm, a tornado of lightning and bursting power - which sucked Saix up and hurled him out against the wall with a crash, his body sparking and burning now.

And that was enough.

Power erupted out of Aqua's body, filling her up and surrounding her in an intense white glow.

Aqua met Xaldin's gaze. He held hers for a moment, sweeping her over critically now - warily. She didn't give him a chance to ponder it. She took a single step forward, and teleported in a flicker of space-time itself.

She reappeared behind him, slashing at him viciously, staggering him! He whirled, lances swinging- but she was already gone, of course. She reappeared upside down, above him, slashing him across the shoulder. She disappeared again, reappearing to his right and getting in three furious strikes! She teleported again, in front of him, where she continued her assault - while simply phasing in and out of existence when he tried to retaliate. His attacks passing through her...like she was a ghost.

She smirked in full now as she continued to dance around him, in and out of existence, slashing him from all sides and every conceivable angle!

He erupted with wind - but she teleported to avoid it, reappearing high over his head and coming down on him with an overhead strike! She struck him so hard he finally gave, a knee giving out as he fell forward, some of his lances dematerializing.

Aqua teleported again, appearing behind him, and she went into her final move with this Command Style. She rapidly teleported in a circle around the man, stabbing at him with her weapon, causing energy spikes of purple to be driven into his form - ten in total. Then she teleported over his head again and drove her sword into the center of it all, causing a massive wave of energy to erupt out from that singular point.

She landed before him, breathing harder now, but satisfied with herself.

Dark tendrils were rising from the man as he slumped forward onto hands and knees fully. The air around him was swirling strangely, transparent...

The man appeared to be on his last legs.

Aqua raised her Keyblade and stepped forward, ready to end it.

But a sudden wave of powerful ice caused her to turn and leap backwards quickly.

Vexen had attacked at last - a single swipe of that shield, and a huge icy mass had formed down the hallway, several feet long and high.

Aqua eyed him, then looked to where Saix was standing off to the side, a hand clutching his chest. It seemed he'd decided the wiser course of action was to stand back and observe her now.

Saix met her gaze, and darkness swirled around him as he disappeared.

Aqua looked to Xaldin just in time to see him vanish away as well.

And then, Vexen was gone too, looking at her like he was entirely satisfied with the way things had gone here as well...

Despite...that she had had them on the ropes. Despite that she had nearly finished one of them off. Despite that, clearly, they were out of their league with her.

Why, then, did Aqua suddenly feel...not quite so certain she had won this battle?

Well, regardless...

Reaching her objective here was more important than ever. More urgent.

Aqua turned and flicked her wrist, dispelling her barrier, allowing Kairi and Roxas to rejoin her.

Both of these children were looking at her with...sheer reverence.

It wasn't something Aqua was entirely comfortable with - but at the same time, she couldn't deny how good it felt to a part of her.

The part that preened.

She had proven she was far from weak and out of the game. She had shined again.

And now...it was time to check her theory.

Aqua led the way through the halls, on up many stairs - and then she stopped at last before a large white door, raising her Keyblade to aim at it. A light beam flew out, and the door unlocked with a clink and swung open. Aqua strode through it swiftly, stepping into the Chamber of Waking at last. The pulsing chains on the floor and walls, that single, familiar throne in the center of the room. And Ventus...sitting there with his head down.

Or, Ventus's body.

It was confirmed.

"This is...weird," Roxas spoke. "Who- is that? Is that Ventus...?"

"No, you and Ven are in the same body right now," Kairi said quietly, pointing to his chest. "You're sharing that body. Which...I guess now we know it's Sora's body. Because you are his Nobody. And Ven...he's still in there too. But this-" She turned to point to the throne. "-is Ven's actual body. Right?"

"Right," Aqua breathed, smiling. She walked over to the throne, kneeling before Ven's unmoving body. "Ven...it took me a long time, but I'm home. And soon, you will be, too. Right where you belong." She sighed, straightening up again. She summoned the Master's Keyblade - Master Defender - and held it before herself. "Master," she spoke softly. "I know there's a technique, a power, one I've read about before. But I can't do it, myself. I never...we didn't quite get there, did we? But if you could help me, instruct me, one last time...please...for Ven?"

For a long moment, she stood in silence. Just waiting. Listening. With her Heart. Then, the Keyblade in her hand began to vibrate, and glow. Aqua smiled again, allowing it to lead her actions. She turned, and her arm moved on its own to point at...Roxas. The keyblade's tip glowed brightly, and then Roxas's chest glowed with a similar golden light. The boy gasped, hand going to his chest in confusion - and maybe a bit of fear. Aqua watched as a swirling sphere of orange and pink energy emerged from his chest, drifting forward into the air.

Aqua turned on the spot, aiming the Keyblade now at Ven's body.

Ven's Heart flew past her, and disappeared into his own body's chest.

The glow faded from the Keyblade, the warmth in Aqua left her as well, and then Ventus...opened his eyes and sat up in that throne.

"Aqua...?" he said blearily. He looked around in confusion. "Aww, c'mon, don't tell me it's been another ten years or something..." he mumbled out.

"No! No - hardly a few hours this time, I promise you!" Aqua laughed, shaking her head and racing forward. She pulled him into a hug, stroking his hair. "We're home, we're back - I brought your Heart back to your body, Ven. You're fully you again."

"Um, Aqua...?"

"Yes?"

"If I'm me, then who's that...?"

Aqua drew away, glancing at Roxas. "That's Roxas."

"Who?" Ven said, still staring at the other boy with his appearance.

"He's mine and Sora's...second Nobody," Kairi said, rather unhelpfully. "Like Xikira, he was born into this World when mine and Sora's Hearts left our bodies. But your Heart stayed with Sora's body, Ven. That's why you had a body before we just came here to find your real one. You were using Sora's body! And so was - is - Roxas...still. Also. We thought we lost you back in Radiant Garden, but you never left."

Ven blinked at her. He stared at Roxas some more. Then he fell back in the throne, slumping. "Could I just go back to sleep again? I don't get any of this!"

"Hey, I'm just as confused as you..." Roxas muttered. "I don't get it either."

"We'll explain it!" Kairi said quickly, patting his arm. "To both of you. We just have to get back to Traverse Town, okay?"

"But, the Organization-"

"We need to talk about that, too, once we get back," Kairi said firmly. "We will, but...just come back with us, please! Xikira would want you to - she wanted nothing more than to come with us too, along with her friends, Elrena and Lauriam!"

Roxas sighed, shrugging. "Okay. But I want to know what's going on."

"Saaame here..." Ven chuckled, raising a hand.

Kairi and Aqua exchanged looks - and smiles of, really, very similar joy.