Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 39

"Sora!" Kairi threw herself into his arms as he appeared in the house, and he caught her easily, kissing her softly. "Riku?"

"Maleficent's keeping him asleep until it's over, to give mind and body time to adjust. He'll be okay."

"He's really safe there?"

"He's safe, I'll sense it if he leaves her castle," he promised as they sat back on the bed.

"Really?"

"Yeah, since…since drinking his blood," he admitted softly.

"Oh. How will we explain this to Mickey? He took your change well enough but finding out about Maleficent?"

"We'll work it out," he promised. "Now get some sleep, we've got a big day tomorrow with Naminé." He kissed her softly.

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Mickey was surprised when Sora appeared on the stairs alone, but then he motioned to him so Mickey followed him upstairs and into a small library. "Is everything alright Sora?" he asked as they sat down.

"It's about Riku," Sora answered softly.

"Is he alright?"

"He will be," he shifted, nervous? "He's asleep at the moment, but not here. He…he's going through some changes."

"Changes?" he asked, trying not to jump to conclusions.

"No! I didn't, I wouldn't," Sora shook his head. "Maleficent took Riku in, treated him like her own child…and that had consequences."

Mickey frowned and then it hit him. Maleficent may be a being of Darkness…but she was still a faerie. He should have realised that could have consequences for Riku. "He's becoming a faerie," he murmured, and Sora nodded, looking relieved that he had worked it out.

Not just a faerie if it was Maleficent's influence, it'd be a Dark Faerie. Two Keyblade wielders becoming beings of Darkness…Master Yen Sid would not be pleased when he found out. But Sora proved that it didn't matter, Riku already had Darkness within him so hopefully he would remain himself too.

"Is he alright?" he asked.

"It's causing him pain," Sora admitted sadly. "Last night we couldn't even touch him he was in so much pain. And then…he could somehow sense our emotions, I think everyone here's, and it overwhelmed him. I…I took him to Maleficent for help, she won't hurt him."

As much as she was his enemy…he couldn't fault Sora for taking Riku to her. Who better to help Riku through his change than the one responsible for it? And now, looking back at it… the way she had spoken and glanced at both boys at the Organisations castle… he had a feeling he knew who had taught Sora to use his own Darkness, beyond the Corridors.

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Dai woke up feeling warmer than normal and then his face went red as he realised there was a body wrapped around him, one that was soft and warm…then he remembered Naminé coming to his room during the night. He swallowed, what was he meant to do? His hand was…and then he realised Naminé was awake and looking at him, his face getting redder. "Uh…"

"G…good morning," she whispered.

"Hi," he managed to mumble in return.

"Thank you," she shocked him by kissing his cheek and then she was scrambling from the bed and room.

Dai rolled onto his back, staring up at the ceiling. That…that was the best sleep he'd had since his creation. He sighed and got up; he would be at her side in the lab which meant he needed to get ready.

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Aqua winced as she woke up, a sharp pain in her neck, what did she expect from a night in a chair? Ven's hand still lay in her own, the skin warm, and she looked over to see him still sleeping peacefully. She stretched and then reached out to gently run her fingers through blond hair. "Good morning Ven," she whispered but there was no answer.

It was a little frightening, that Sora could make him sleep so deeply that nothing seemed able to wake him. It was scarier to think of that woman doing it to Sora and killing him while he was unable to resist. At least Ven was only sleeping to allow his body and mind to adjust to the changes. Would Ventus know what had happened to him when he woke up? He hadn't seemed all that confused back home, but it might be different once he was fully aware.

"Please be alright," she pleaded softly and then she smiled as she felt his fingers move ever so slightly, it could be nothing, or it could be Ventus trying to respond even when asleep, Sora had said he could hear them. "I'll be back soon," she promised, leaning in to kiss his forehead. She hated leaving him but she needed food and to see what was happening.

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Maleficent watched as Riku writhed on the bed, even deeply unconscious due to magic. It was better he sleep the remainder of his transformation. The physical changes so far where not jarring but she knew there were more coming. He'd grown a few inches perhaps, his hair becoming even longer, body slender but as a faerie, especially a male one, he would be stronger than he looked. Stronger than young Sora? That she didn't know. It had been so long since she had even heard rumour of a male of her kind, so much had been lost.

His skin had paled as well, although it still held a human colouration, would that change? Or would he retain some human characteristics? She watched his eyes moved restlessly behind closed lids and reached down to touch his forehead. "Rest well young Riku, you are safe."

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Ienzo spun as the hair on the back of his neck stood on end, backing into the console as something…he stared in shock and then hit the alarm button before cautiously approaching. The black coat was all too familiar and then the body slumped onto their stomach, limp. Was this how they had appeared? Then…he took a breath and knelt, pushing back the hood to reveal a mass of familiar red hair. "Axel," he murmured, checking his pulse, finding it steady.

He heard footsteps and looked up as Aeleus rushed in, weapon in hand. "Ienzo?"

"It's Axel," he answered. "Help me with him?"

He nodded and approached, kneeling down to carefully lift him only for him to suddenly gasp and begin struggling wildly.

"Axel! It's alright, you're safe," Ienzo grabbed flailing gloved hands, and then green eyes slowly focused on him. There was something…different.

"Ienzo?" he mumbled.

"You're in Radiant Garden," he assured him, even as Aeleus shifted so that Axel was sitting on the ground and leaning against him.

"What…what happn'd?" he pressed a hand to his head, and then he gasped. "Sora!"

"Is fine, you saved them all. They'll be here soon; we have a Replica for Naminé."

"Think you can stand Axel?" Aeleus asked him, getting a groggy nod, so Ienzo backed off to give them room, Aeleus helping him to his feet.

"I…I feel…"

"Different?" Ienzo asked, and Axel nodded. He realised now why Axel looked different, the tattoos on his face were gone. "You died Axel; you remember what that means?"

Axel blinked, the confusion seeming to be fading, his green eyes slowly going wide. "I…I'm human?" he asked, and Ienzo nodded.

"Hey Ienzo, are…Axel?!" Sora's voice cut in, and Ienzo turned to see him in the doorway, others behind him.

They quickly crowded into the room and Ienzo was shocked to see Demyx was with them…no longer dressed in the Organisation coat, he'd heard he had sort of defected but it was still surprising to see him as such a part of the group, Naminé and the Rep…Daichi by his side.

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He stared at the group, trying to remember what had happened. They'd…they'd been going after Xemnas and the others, Ienzo said he'd died. He was human now, he caught his reflection in the glass, saw the missing tattoos. He really was human again…he had a full Heart, not whatever may have been forming. "Lea," he murmured.

"What?" Sora looked at him, somehow having heard him.

"My name…it's Lea," he told them, and Sora grinned at him.

"Nice to meet you Lea," Sora walked over and offered his hand, and Lea took it.

He spotted Demyx with Dai and Naminé and was surprised by the blonds expression. Seemed they were right about Demyx having at least part of a Heart, he seemed genuinely shocked and also…relieved to see him.

They all seemed pleased and even happy to see him back. He had been accepted into the group rather easily yes, but still, finding out they had grieved his demise still felt like a shock. Then Even and Dilan showed up, Even moving to examine him while Ienzo led Naminé to where the Replica was waiting for her.

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Naminé could only make herself approach the table because Dai was holding her hand. Everything was so different to how she'd seen back in Castle Oblivion and she was glad for that. Still, she had always thought her existence would end and she would return to Kairi. Now she was to have her own life and it seemed someone she could spend it with.

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Aqua sat on the bed and gently cradled Ventus in her arms, talking to him quietly. The others had left for the castle but she had stayed behind with him. She didn't feel right leaving him alone, even though she knew the house was protected by Merlin. He'd been alone for so long… she tensed as the door opened but then relaxed as Sora entered with a tray of food.

"Thought you'd want some lunch and we need to see if Ventus can still eat food," he explained as he set it down.

"You're waking him?" she asked, and he nodded.

Sora sat down on the bed beside her and took Ventus' hand. "It's time to wake up Ventus," he called softly. "It's alright, you're safe, take your time."

Aqua was relieved to feel Ventus shift slightly, his breathing changing, and then he le tout a soft whine. "Ven?" she called softly, stroking his cheek. She felt him press into her touch, his eyelashes fluttering against his cheeks.

Slowly, his eyes opened, and Ventus yawned. He blinked up at her and then smiled. "Good morning Aqua," he murmured, and she felt so relieved to hear him speak without stuttering or anything. He'd known her before but to hear him sounding like he should was even better.

"Good morning Ven," she smiled at him. "I'm sorry it's taken so long."

He shook his head, shifting to hug her, and she held on tightly, able to feel the extra strength in his arms. "It's not your fault." He let go and turned to Sora, staring at him. "Sire?" he asked hesitantly, leaning unconsciously towards him.

Sora looked at her, and she forced herself to let go of Ven, letting him go to Sora who nuzzled at him, watching Ven relax completely. He whined softly, pressing his face to Sora's throat. Sora's hand moved to the back of his head, stroking his hair gently, his expression soft. It wasn't the same way he looked at Kairi and Riku but there was clear affection. Aqua did wonder just how aware they had been of each other over the last decade.

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He cuddled into his Sire, needing to be close to him, inhaling the comforting scent. It was almost perfect having the two of them there, all that was missing was…Terra. Where was Terra? He lifted his head, finally really looking at his Sire, he looked familiar…Vanitas? No…his hair wasn't black.

"It's okay Ven," Sire murmured, and his voice was different too.

"Not…not Vanitas?"

Sire frowned. "Who's Vanitas?"

"The reason Ventus' Heart sought refuge in yours. Xehanort did something…made him somehow from Ventus, to forge the χ-blade he needed them to fight and they did, I faced Ven's possessed body, but then he just collapsed, I assume Ventus beat him. After that, Ven never woke up."

"Ventus, why would you think I'm Vanitas?" Sire asked gently, stroking his back.

"Look like him," he buried his face against Sire's shirt.

"But if…oh," Sire whispered.

"Sora?" Aqua asked, Sora…Ven knew that name, he did.

"I remember…Ventus' Heart coming to me wasn't the first time we had contact. His Heart was badly damaged…I think he was dying. If that's when Vanitas was made from him, then maybe when I helped heal him…"

"It influenced Vanitas?" she asked. "I suppose that's no more crazy than any other idea."

He was just glad Sire wasn't Vanitas. Sora…yes, the boy whose Light had reached out to him, had offered shelter. He shifted, sniffing at his throat, he was hungry, sucking at his skin.

"Hungry?" Sire asked and he sucked harder, fighting the urge to bite down. "Let's try some food, see if you can still eat." He let Sire move him away from his throat, but he let him stay in his lap even as a tray of food was pulled closer.

He watched as Aqua took some food, it smelt…strange, but he took some and brought it to his mouth. It wasn't what he wanted but it was what they wanted him to eat. He bit in and wrinkled his nose at the taste but obediently chewed and swallowed. It…it was a sandwich, he knew what it was, but it didn't taste right.

"What's wrong Ven?" Aqua asked in concern.

"It…doesn't taste wrong?" he asked her.

She looked at Sire and Ven felt him shrug.

"I can't eat food but Ventus' body is still mostly alive so I figured he'd still be able to eat," Sire answered, a hand running through his hair and that felt good. "He'll still need it, even if he does prefer the taste of blood now." A cup was lifted up and Ven grabbed it, drinking greedily.

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Aqua watched Ventus gulp down what had to be blood, unlike Sora he lacked the fangs to feed himself so drinking from a cup or having to create a wound somehow was the only way he'd be able to drink blood. His distaste for the actual food had been obvious, despite Aqua having told Sora his favourite sandwiches. That could make things difficult, although he had eaten without complaint at Sora's urging. He still didn't seem quite himself, but Kairi had told her that he might be different, that Sora had changed since being turned. He was still Ventus though and that was what mattered.

Ven looked over at her again, head tilted curiously. "Are you okay?" he asked and he seemed to be…his sense of smell was that good?

"I'm alright Ven, just worried that you're okay," she promised. She glanced at Sora and then back at Ventus. "You…Ven, do you understand what's happened?" she asked carefully.

Ventus blinked at her and then slowly sat up, away from Sora, wrapping his arms around his knees. "I shattered our Hearts but Sora saved me," he murmured, not looking at either of them. "I think…I was dreaming? Worlds and people," he shrugged slightly. "I remember everything getting really cold and dark…hunger…then you were there." Ventus looked down at the cup, running his finger along the rim, coming back with blood on it. "That's…Aqua? What's happening to me?"

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Lea walked into the bedroom he'd been given at Merlin's before, seeing it looked no different, Demyx's sitar lying on the other bed. They'd left his things, had they hoped he'd come back like Ienzo and the others? He sat on the bed, fingering the coat he'd woken in…but he hadn't been wearing it when he was killed which was weird. No…he'd been forced into before his Heart was taken…so he'd come back in what he was wearing when he first 'died'?

The Organisation was gone now, would they all return as humans? Or did some of their Heartless still exist? But Xemnas…Xehanort…his Heartless and Nobody were both gone, something he'd pointed out to Dilan. If they were returning to the same place they had lost their Heart then the man should return in the castle which put them all at risk. Isa…would he be back soon?

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Kairi stared at the Castle in the distance, that was where Riku was but she had no way of getting to him. She couldn't teleport like Sora or use Corridors like some...could she walk there? It would be risky, she had magic, but she wasn't a Keyblade wielder or anything. She just wanted to see him, to know he was alright for herself. She trusted Sora when he said Riku was okay but nothing beat being able to confirm it herself.

Kairi threw her hands up in frustration and promptly staggered back, overbalancing. She blinked and lowered her hand to stare in shock at the Keyblade in her hand. How?!

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Naminé was relieved when all the equipment was removed, Dai moving closer, and she took his hand.

"Well?" he asked.

"Naminé is in perfect health," Even announced.

She'd only met his Nobody twice, and one of those had been when she'd…when she'd re-written Dai's memory. He was still cold but nothing like what he'd been at the castle. Still, she didn't feel comfortable in the lab and would be glad to return to Merlin's.

"So we can go?" Daichi pressed, and Even nodded.

"If anything seems strange, come back, but everything is in order."

She slipped off the table and they left the room, Ienzo nodding at them as they passed.

"How do you feel?" he asked as they left the Castle.

"I don't think I feel any different," she admitted. "Maybe…a little more real, if that makes sense?"

"But you're okay?" he pressed, and she smiled.

She stopped walking and turned to face him, leaning in to kiss his cheek but he turned his head slightly at the last second, their lips brushing.

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Ven curled between them, head spinning. Sora was a vampire and because his Heart had been in him, he was some kind of hybrid – part human, part vampire. Blood, he'd been drinking blood and that should be gross, shouldn't it? But it tasted so wonderful, especially from Sire…Sora.

He looked up at him, seeing the gentle look in crimson sand blue eyes, smiling back at him before shifting closer, laying his head on his shoulder, their fingers tangling, even as he sought Aqua's hand with his other one. Aqua and Terra had been his family, the only one he remembered having even though he knew there had to be something before then. He'd been alone before Master Xehanort had taken him in, he didn't even know what World he had been on before he had been taken to the Keyblade Graveyard for training. Why had he chosen him? And…how had he gotten a Keyblade? Master Xehanort hadn't given it to him. There was a part of his memory still missing, despite Vanitas pushing him to remember them being one. His memories were clearer than ever, something due to the changes his body had undergone, but there was still a hole. Sora could remember healing him and he'd been a baby, so why couldn't he remember?

Xehanort and Eraqus had both been wrong, both too obsessed with Light or Dark. Master Eraqus had tried to kill him all to keep the χ-blade from being formed…what would he have done to Sora for being a vampire? Or him for being partially one? How would Master Yen Sid react? He was the only Master left right? Other than Aqua anyway.

He blinked as his hair was ruffled, looking over at Aqua to find her watching him, worried.

"Ven?" she asked gently.

"I keep…" he shook his head.

"Jumping from topic to topic?" Sire asked, and he nodded. "That's normal and will settle, could take a while longer. I was like that for months after I started remembering."

Good, that was good. "Aqua?"

"Yes Ven?"

"Where's Terra? Doesn't…doesn't he want to see me anymore?"

TBC….