Day 4: Ocean

For the first time in a long time, Ventus could relax.

After one long year of searching, Sora had finally been found and safely brought back home. Many tearful and jubilant reunions were had, including a grand welcome back party on Destiny Islands.

Now that things had finally settled down, Sora, Riku, and Kairi were busy meeting with the principal of their high school, figuring out their new school schedules after missing several years of education. Ven was glad to not be in their shoes.

Instead, he, Aqua, and Terra were spending one last day on the Play Island before renewing their search for his other lost brother.

Ven shifted his toes in the warm sand as he reclined under the shade of a large umbrella while Aqua strode along the beach, searching the shallows for seashells. Terra was doing pushups near the wooden shack, unsatisfied to let a single day go by without getting in some exercise.

Ventus was attempting to write a poem in his green notebook— one inspired by the ocean. He wasn't entirely sure why he was drawn to it so much— that vast expanse of bright water, but he was intrigued by it all the same.

She's blue, Ven wrote. More blue than I've ever seen; gentle as a light rain and fierce as a tidal wave…

He paused, tapping his pen against his chin. The ocean… What else could he say about the ocean…?

Suddenly, a dark shadow fell over him. "What're you working on?" Terra asked, attempting to snatch at his journal.

"Hey!" Ventus exclaimed, jerking away. "This is private!"

The older boy looked ready to argue, when Aqua's voice rang out across the sand. "Terra, why don't you go get us some coconuts?" she requested.

"Oh, alright," he huffed, taking one last look at Ven's notebook before running off towards the other side of the Play Island.

Aqua stared after Terra until he'd disappeared around the wooden shack before plopping down in the sand next to Ventus and spreading out her seashell collection. "Look, I've found enough thalassa shells to make an authentic Destiny Islands Wayfinder!" she stated brightly, pointing out five blue-and-yellow seashells. "Kairi taught me how to make one."

"That's awesome, Aqua…" Ven said distractedly, trying to remember what he'd wanted to write before Terra had interrupted him.

"…So, just what are you working on?" she asked, regarding him shrewdly.

"Uhm…" Ven hesitated for a moment before handing over the journal. Unlike Terra, Aqua wouldn't tease him over poetry.

Aqua read over the first few lines and frowned. "…Who's this 'she' you're writing about?"

"Oh! Uh—" He blushed. Did she think it was silly for him to write about the ocean that way? "N-not anyone in particular…"

"…I see," Aqua stated slowly, her lips pursed into a thin line. "Well whoever she is, I'm sure you'll be happy together." She handed back the journal before standing up and walking away.

Ven blinked, taking a few seconds to register what'd just happened. Then he gaped at Aqua. "W-wait! It's nothing like that!" he cried, jumping to his feet and running after her.

"Oh?" She turned towards him, a slender eyebrow raised.

"Of course not!" he exclaimed. "Sora told me sailors refer to the ocean as a woman."

"Why would they do that?" Aqua asked, her frown dropping only to be replaced by a look of bewilderment.

"Probably 'cause she's beautiful," Ven breathed, gazing into Aqua's deep blue eyes. A realization struck him, then— The reason he was so drawn to the ocean… was because it reminded him of Aqua!

"So you're not… interested in someone else?" she asked hesitantly, twirling a lock of blue hair around her finger.

Ventus blinked, the breath catching in his throat. "…Even if I was, why would you care so much?" he inquired softly.

"I—" Aqua began uncertainly, "I wouldn't mind," she forced out and looked away, a flush rising in her cheeks.

"You're jealous?" he asked incredulously.

"No!" she shouted, then deflated, her shoulders drooping. "…Yes."

Ven ran a hand through his hair and laughed. Aqua liked him? Like, liked-liked him? He could scarcely believe it. "So, uhm— Does that mean…? You'd like to go out, sometime… with me…?"

"I…" Aqua took a deep breath and met his gaze. "I'd love to, Ven," she beamed.

"Wow," he breathed. "Wow, okay." Ven sheepishly grinned back, taking her hand. Now this was shaping up to be a most wonderful summer.

Thanks for Reading!