AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Thank you to Crystallin, crestoflight3, YumeTakato and Scarlett-95 for your reviews, and to everyone who has DM'd or added this story to their favourite/follow lists.

I'm so glad you're enjoying the journey, and I hope you enjoy today's chapter.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO | A RESTLESS NIGHT

Despite Luxu's summons hanging over them, Kairi had felt surprisingly calm on the journey back to Disney Castle. She took the controls so that Naminé could work with Donald and Goofy, strengthening their connection to Sora while Kairi called Riku to bring him up to speed.

The news had not been taken well. Though it was still in its early stages, the others had managed to come up with the foundation of a plan which could have given them the element of surprise, but it would have relied on Luxu and the others being totally unprepared for them. With that option now well and truly out of reach, there was little they could do but wait for Kairi and the others to arrive.

They had agreed that it was still worthwhile for Naminé to strengthen everyone's connections to Sora, and when they finally arrived at Disney Castle they found Riku and Mickey waiting for them in the hangar.

Donald and Goofy snapped off a sharp salute which Mickey waved away bashfully.

"Aw, fellas, you don't have to do that," he chuckled. Goofy laughed.

"We know. It's just good ta see ya again, Your Majesty."

"We told the others," Riku said as Kairi and Naminé joined them on the platform. Kairi winced.

"How did they take it?"

"About as well as you'd expect." He offered her a small, defeated sigh. "We told everyone to try and get some rest, but it's going to be easier said than done."

"There's food in the kitchen if you're hungry," Mickey offered, "and all the rooms in the West Wing are ready for ya, just take your pick. Naminé, the library is all yours," Mickey added. "We think we've got you everything you need, but you just shout if we missed anything."

"Thank you," Naminé said with a smile before turning to Riku. "I think your memories will take the longest, so I should probably start with you." Kairi didn't miss the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes or the way he swallowed nervously.

"Sure," he answered.

"You don't have to worry," Kairi said with a reassuring smile. "It's fine, really, and you're in good hands." Riku's lips curled in to a fond half-smile.

"Yeah, I am," he said. Kairi didn't miss the flush that rose in Naminé's cheeks, but before she could question it Riku had offered her his elbow and was leading her away to the library.

"Say, Kairi," Mickey began, "d'you mind if I steal Donald and Goofy for a while?"

"Of course not," she answered, unable to deny the King even if she'd wanted to. Mickey smiled brightly at her.

"I think I saw Ven heading to the kitchen if you wanna find him. Not sure where the others have gotten to. I think they might have gone down to town to see the fireworks." Kairi smiled.

"I'm sure I'll find them." They walked up the stairs together before parting ways on the colonnade. Kairi pulled out her phone, though a sudden thought made her pause with her thumbs hovering over the screen. This was the first time she'd been alone in months, and after being in such close quarters with Naminé, Donald and Goofy for the last few weeks it was kind of refreshing. For the first time in several years, being alone felt nice. So she slipped the phone back in to her pocket and made her way down in to the gardens. The sun looked to have just set, judging by the darkening sky overhead, and the evening breeze was gentle and warm as it danced across her shoulders.

Her solitude didn't last long. As she rounded the topiary castle in the middle of the gardens she became aware of barking and the skittering of claws on gravel. She turned just in time to avoid being completely bowled over by the familiar blur that was barrelling towards her.

"Pluto!" she exclaimed. Pluto yipped excitedly and ran circles around her legs before leaping back and dropping low, his tail waving back and forth so hard that his entire rear end shook from side to side. She opened her arms and dropped down to one knee, and Pluto leapt in to the hug, licking her nose and her cheeks and yipping in to her ear. "It's good to see you!" He yipped again, pushing away from her shoulders with such force that he nearly sent her tumbling backwards. She steadied herself with a laugh as he began to spin in tight circles, barking and yipping excitedly.

The hairs on the back of her arms stood alert; a split-second warning for the attack that was whistling towards her from behind. One hand pushed Pluto back while the other summoned her keyblade, and she rose and twisted just in time to block Void Gear's heavy blow. The chains glinted and Vanitas smirked.

"You've gotten better." He was pressing hard against her keyblade; the gears grinding against the crown of flowers.

"It's good to see you too, Vanitas," she answered with a smile. His eyes flicked down to Light's Promise and he arched an eyebrow.

"You got a new keyblade."

"So do you." His might not have undergone the same extreme makeover that hers had, but she didn't miss how the black gears had lightened to a gleaming silver or how the menacing red teeth now glinted gold. She wondered what the changes meant for Vanitas, who was staring at her with an almost feral grin.

"Wanna see what they're capable of?" His eyes flashed, and Kairi noticed that they were more grey than gold now. Her heart fluttered, but she did her best to smother her excitement. Vanitas would likely not appreciate it. Instead she arched an eyebrow.

"Are you that desperate for a fight?" she asked. He scoffed.

"The heartless were an inconvenience at best, and your little Guardian friends aren't exactly jumping at the chance to fight with me," he sneered. "It'll be nice to have a fight that might actually be a challenge." Kairi pursed her lips.

"A challenge? I'm flattered." She pressed against his keyblade and he pressed right back.

"I wouldn't b-" She dismissed her keyblade and span aside, leaving Vanitas to tumble forwards. He quickly caught himself, and by the time he had turned back to face her Light's Promise was back in her hand. His sneer quickly became a smirk and Kairi's stomach twisted excitedly. "Is that how you want to play? Fine." He melted in to the floor, becoming a pool of shadow which zipped this way and that before coming to a stop under Kairi's feet. She rolled out of the way a split second before he leapt up from the ground. She knew better than to think she had the upper hand, and instead of taking the opening he gave her she quickly summoned a bubble of magic. It was just in time to deflect several spheres of purple fire which left her surrounded by darkness. When she was sure the barrage had ended she let her shield fall and cleared the air with a strong gust of wind. Vanitas was stronger now – perhaps even back to his full strength at last – but Kairi was stronger too.

A flicker of movement caught her eye and she blocked instinctively as Vanitas appeared above her in a flash of red and black. The blow still sent her skidding backwards through the gravel but she kept her guard in place as he struck again and again. After the third attack she felt the air grow cold, and she leapt aside as the thick shards of ice sprouted from the floor. She planted the tip of her keyblade and skirted around him, finding an opening on his back, and she managed to get in two hits before he teleported away. His next attacks came whistling towards her – silver crescents of pure energy that knocked her off her feet and sent her tumbling through the dirt. She rolled to her knees an wound back her arm, sending Light's Promise spinning towards him before warping to catch up. The action caught him off guard and she managed to land several heavy blows before Vanitas leap back, his entire body tense. He was looking at something over her shoulder, the vein in his neck throbbing dangerously.

Roxas and Xion stood several paces away, both watching the spar closely. Roxas' features were twisted in to a barely-smothered scowl, while Xion's lips were curled in to an all-too-familiar smile that made Kairi squirm. That was her smile – the smile she used to wear whenever she was trying to get Sora or Riku to do something for her. Naminé never used it, but it seemed that Xion had inherited it from Sora's memories instead.

"Fancy a little two-on-two?" Xion suggested. "Can't let you two have all the fun. Besides, Kairi, I'm pretty sure I owe you a rematch."

"You sure you're up for it?" Vanitas sneered. Roxas' eyes narrowed; Xion's smile widened.

"I'm sure we'll manage," she answered. Kairi tilted her head a fraction and Xion glanced at her, lifting her chin by the smallest fraction before summoning her keyblade. Kairi frowned but fell in to place beside Vanitas, holding Light's Promise tightly as Roxas summoned Oblivion and Oathkeeper. Vanitas huffed.

"Is that supposed to scare me?" he drawled. Roxas' response was to charge, keyblades sparking as he dragged them through the gravel, and when he reached Vanitas he leapt high in to the air, kicking up pebbles and grit as he brought his keyblades down. Vanitas disappeared in a flash of black and red, reappearing behind Roxas with a dangerous grin.

Kairi was so distracted by Vanitas and Roxas that she almost didn't see Xion barrelling towards her, and she had to leap back to avoid her first attack. Xion grinned and dropped low, tightening her grip on the Kingdom Key as she began pacing in a wide circle. The action brought a sense of déjà vu and a small, unsettling wash of fear that was quickly flushed out by adrenaline, and Kairi darted forwards. She feinted left, drawing Xion's attention before throwing her keyblade wide. It clipped Xion's shoulder and Kairi warped to it, catching her by surprise and landing a series of blows that had Xion staggering back. Xion finally caught the upper hand by snaring her keyblade around Kairi's and knocking Kairi off balance. Kairi stumbled back, dropping low to keep from falling completely. At last she found her feet and she planted them firmly, winding her arm back to launch her next assault.

A blur flew between them, landing heavily against the castle wall and kicking up a cloud of dust and debris. Roxas emerged, a seething glare on his face as the tips of his keyblades sparked furiously. He let out a guttural roar as he barrelled back towards Vanitas who stood smirking, disappearing in a flash of darkness and reappearing behind Roxas. This time Roxas was ready, and after blocking three heavy strikes he reversed around Vanitas and started to attack him from behind, launching a frantic assault which ended with Vanitas flying through the air with a surprised cry.

"Roxas knows this is just a friendly match, right?" Kairi asked softly. Xion nodded, watching the pair as she slowly walked towards Kairi. "Should we stop them?"

"Let them get it out," Xion answered. "This has been brewing ever since we got here." Vanitas quickly recovered and he melted in to shadow, disappearing in Roxas' blind spot and reappearing under Roxas' feet, sending him soaring in the air only to be assaulted by a shower of fire. Kairi winced.

"Are you sure we shouldn't intervene?" She wasn't sure who she was more afraid for; Vanitas was strong and willing to play dirty, but it seemed that Roxas had inherited Sora's stubborn streak. Despite limping heavily on his left ankle, he still fired off several bursts of ice magic before attempting to charge. His injury left him open, and Vanitas was quick to take advantage. Xion sighed and pointed her keyblade towards them.

"Curaga!" The green light washed over both of them and they turned to her – Vanitas with a look of confusion and Roxas with something akin to betrayal. It lasted only a moment before Vanitas sought to take advantage of the interruption, only to be foiled as Roxas parried the attack and retaliated with one of his own. Xion banished her keyblade and settled in to the grass. "They'll feel better once they've beaten each other up a little." Kairi glanced down at her, watching the smile that was pulling at her lips as she watched the pair fight it out.

"You weren't really looking for a rematch, were you?" she asked. Xion turned to her with a shrug.

"There'll be other chances," she said. "Besides, it won't be a true rematch without Sora." The smile remained fixed in place, but Kairi didn't miss the worry that flashed through her eyes. She offered Xion a small smile in response.

"Three on two seems a little unfair, especially when you don't have Xemnas on your side," she joked as she dismissed her keyblade and settled in to the grass beside her. Xion laughed a little and Kairi smiled. "But who knows? Maybe I'll even make it to the end of the fight this time." Xion let out a surprised snort before quickly smothering it with an embarrassed flush. Kairi laughed and waved it away, but before she could say anything else Pluto was upon them, covering them both with sloppy kisses.

"You could'a told me you were back!" Axel was standing some distance away, his fists planted on his hips and his lips pursed in to a pout. He looked as though he'd been running. Kairi giggled as Pluto rolled in to Xion's lap.

"Hi, Axel." The pout melted in to a smile and Kairi patted the grass beside her. Axel accepted the invitation gladly, though he seemed to regret it when Pluto leapt eagerly in to his lap.

"Gerroff, you big mutt," Axel grumbled. Xion reached around Kairi to prod him in the side.

"Leave him alone," she scolded. "He's a good boy, aren't you, Pluto?" At the sound of his name Pluto turned and leapt back to Xion's side. His hind paws caught Axel in an unfortunate spot and Axel yelped before curling in on himself and rolling on to his side with a high whine. Isa arrived then, and as he approached he stared down his nose as Axel, an eyebrow arched in amusement.

"You always did enjoy putting on a show when you were injured," he drawled.

"Let's see how you like it," Axel wheezed in to the grass. Isa shook his head before turning to Kairi.

"I'm glad to see you safe, Kairi." His voice was warm and soft, but she didn't miss the note of tension running through it. She gave him a bright smile.

"You too," she said, realising that for the first time she felt completely calm around him. A little awkward still, perhaps, but that stemmed from unfamiliarity not fear. "Will you join us?" His smile widened a little and she saw some of the tension ease from his shoulders. He settled in beside Axel, chuckling at his expense while Xion kept a firm grip on Pluto's collar to keep him from claiming another victim. Once seated, Isa looked towards Roxas and Vanitas. "How long have they been going at it?"

"Five minutes," Xion sighed as Axel sat up, rubbing tears from his eyes. "Maybe ten." Vanitas tossed Roxas in to the air like a rag doll and Kairi gave a sympathetic grimace, though Roxas was quick to recover and he sped towards Vanitas with both keyblades ablaze. He caught Vanitas off-guard and sent him sprawling. Vanitas rolled through the gravel and sprang to his feet some distance away, seething.

"You fight like Sora," Vanitas hissed.

"Thanks." There was an unmistakable note of pride in Roxas' voice, and more than a little mischief when he replied: "So do you."

"That wasn't a compliment," Vanitas growled.

"It was to me." Roxas' smug grin only widened as Vanitas charged, furious. The two disappeared behind the castle topiary in the centre of the gardens, and Kairi didn't miss Roxas' loud curse or Vanitas' triumphant yell.

"Reckon this'll clear the air between them?" Axel asked.

"Probably not," Xion answered, "but it's a start."

As Vanitas and Roxas continued to clash with no sign of relenting, conversation turned to the places they'd been and the people they'd seen. Soon they were all exchanging pictures, passing their phones back and forth and sharing some of the more interesting shots they'd managed to take. Xion had managed to get a picture of Roxas holding Agrabah's Tiger Head Cave in the palm of his hand, while Axel had managed to snap a photo of Isa looking thoroughly unimpressed atop a rollercoaster in Prankster's Paradise.

The fight finally ended some time after midnight when Ven arrived to tell them that others in the castle were turning in for the night. Vanitas and Roxas reluctantly agree to call it a draw, with a promise that it would be continued later, and Vanitas bid everyone a curt goodnight before disappearing through a portal. Ven shook his head.

"Why can't he just take the stairs like everybody else?" he sighed. He said goodnight to them before returning back to the castle. Xion's phone chirped; the light from her screen made her face glow in the darkness.

"Naminé's free if we want to go see her," she said, showing her phone to Roxas. He nodded.

"Yeah. Night, guys." Xion tapped out a quick reply to Naminé before the pair set off towards the castle.

"I think I'll also turn in," Isa said as they disappeared from sight. Axel cocked his head.

"You sure?" Isa nodded.

"I doubt I'll really be getting much sleep tonight, but I wouldn't mind some peace and quiet. Goodnight Lea, Kairi."

"Goodnight, Isa," said Kairi as he tipped his head towards her.

"So," Axel drawled as Isa slipped through the castle doors. "Anything you wanna tell me?"

"Tell you?" Kairi asked, glancing up at him. He had his arms folded and his nose in the air, and she frowned in confusion.

"Nothing interesting happen on your adventures? No… changes?" Realisation dawned on Kairi and she felt her cheeks flush.

"How did you know?" she asked. He grinned down at her.

"Riku let it slip," he said. "Didn't say much else on the subject, just that we'd have to ask you when you got back." He unfolded his arms and placed his hands on his hips, leaning in towards her. "So? Let's see it."

The light was almost blinding in the darkness of the gardens, and as her eyes adjusted she heard Axel give out a low whistle.

"So yours glows now too?" he asked. "I'm flattered." She rolled her eyes and smiled.

"Don't let it go to your head," she said, although judging by the proud grin on his lips she was already too late. She rolled her eyes and prodded his side, earning a laugh.

"What can I say? You've been influence by a master!" She shook her head with a giggle.

"Speaking of, Master Axel, did you accept your title yet?"

"Without you there to see it?" he asked, pressing his hand against his chest dramatically. "I wouldn't dream of it. Figured I'd wait until after Sora's back and then I'd ask Aqua about it." He paused and glanced down at her. "Maybe I'll wait until you pass your exam, and we could accept it together. You can't be far off now after all your adventuring." She shrugged.

"Maybe," she said, though the word was swallowed by a yawn. Axel chuckled.

"You should get some... well, I guess we won't be sleeping tonight, but we should probably get some rest," he said. Kairi chuckled. "Did you get a room?"

"The King said there were rooms in the West Wing, but… I don't really know where that is."

"That's where we're staying too," he said. "C'mon, I'll walk you up." They used Kairi's keyblade to light their way out of the gardens, and she dismissed it as they stepped inside. The lights were low and the castle was still, and Axel led the way to the West Wing in silence. Eventually he led her down a long corridor of identical doors, and Kairi heard Axel counting under his breath with each door they passed.

"The doors need numbers," he muttered when he saw Kairi staring at him. She smothered a laugh as he came to a stop about halfway down the hall, glancing back to double check that he'd counted correctly before nodding. He turned and pointed towards the end of the hallway where two adjacent doors stood ajar. "One for you, and one for Naminé." Kairi smiled.

"Thanks, Axel," she said softly. He smiled.

"If you're not too tired, I got something for you," he said. "You got a minute?" She shrugged and nodded; it certainly beat lying awake in an unfamiliar bed. Axel smiled, and he carefully opened the door – sticking his head through to make sure that he had chosen the right room before inviting her inside. The room was fairly small and modest, with a sizeable bed tucked under the window and a vanity and chair nestled in the corner. Axel's cloak was draped over the foot of the bed, and Axel motioned for her to take a seat before rummaging through the pockets.

"You remember when Aqua asked the Moogles about keyblade armour?" he asked. Kairi cast her mind back; it had been so long since their first visit to Twilight Town, and Kairi's memories were more than a little hazy, but she did remember Aqua mentioning it. She nodded.

"Did they manage to make it?" Axel grinned, moving on to another pocket.

"Turns out they've pretty much been making it all this time, but with better materials," he answered, his voice a little louder now that they were no longer in the hallway. "The Moogles managed to rework it in to jewellery and charms. Does exactly the same thing, just looks better. The Moogles didn't recognise it at first because it's just so old – Aqua and the others are basically walking around wearing antiques. Isa and I stopped by Twilight Town on our way back here, so we grabbed some bits for us and I thought I'd grab something for you."

"You didn't have to do that," she said. "It must have been expensive. How much do I owe you?" He fixed her with a pointed stare.

"It's a gift, Kairi," he said flatly. "You don't owe me anything. Think of it as me trying to protect you even when I can't fight beside you." Her cheeks flushed a little, but before she could try to object again he withdrew a small package from his pocket with a quiet, "A-ha!" He sat next to Kairi at the foot of the bed and placed the package in to her hands. Inside were two black leather cuffs each studded with silver spikes. Kairi stared at them for several seconds before a laugh bubbled up her throat.

"Axel-"

"I just wanna make sure that nobody's gonna try and grab you again," he said, and despite the seriousness of his words there was a proud smile tugging at his lips. "Not that I think I need to worry any more. Heard you took out the Captain of the Guards in Agrabah." The flush in her cheeks spread to her ears and she ducked her head.

"How did you hear about that?" she asked.

"We passed through a day or two after you," he answered. "It was all anyone could talk about in the marketplace. Seems the captain is struggling to live it down." Kairi plucked one of the cuffs from the paper, turning it over in her fingers to admire it.

"He shouldn't have accused me of stealing," she answered.

"He shouldn't have touched you," Axel huffed. "I hope they fit over your new gloves. Looking good, by the way." She arched an eyebrow and glanced up at him, eying his plaid shirt and the long hooded vest.

"Changing your clothes isn't a crime," she retorted with a smile. "You should try it sometime." He chuckled.

"Just you wait," he said. "One day I might surprise you." She smiled.

"I look forward to it."

The walk from the town to the castle could easily be done in thirty minutes – twenty, if you were rushing – but somehow they had made it last an hour.

Ven had sent them a message some time ago to let them know that Kairi and the others were back, and Aqua was still trying to figure out exactly how it made her feel. She wanted to be excited at the thought of getting Sora back, but she couldn't forget how easily they had been defeated when they had last visited the Graveyard. She supposed it would all be over soon, one way or another.

"Are you okay?" Terra had come to a stop several paces away and he was watching her closely, the concern evident in his eyes. She gave him a small smile.

"Yes," she answered softly. "Just thinking." He nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before he turned his eyes forward again. The castle had come in to view now; the golden flags fluttered gently in the evening breeze, dancing atop the blue-capped turrets.

"We should probably get some sleep," he muttered. "Tomorrow's going to be a big day." She hummed in agreement, but neither of them moved. A comfortable silence settled between them, broken only by the whisper of the wind through the bushes on either side of the path. Aqua glanced up at the twinkling stars overhead.

"I don't know how much sleep I'll be getting tonight," she sighed at last.

"I think it will be a restless night for all of us." Aqua hummed in agreement, her eyes lingering over the castle.

"I wonder how Kairi's doing," she murmured. She ran her fingers over her phone in her pocket, wondering if it was too late to message her to check in. Kairi was probably awake, no doubt just as restless as Aqua (if not more so), but on the off chance that she had managed to find sleep Aqua didn't want to be the one to wake her.

"She's come a long way," Terra said fondly. He turned back to Aqua and offered her a warm smile. "You chose your apprentice well." Aqua's cheeks flushed.

"Well I didn't exactly choose her. Not like you chose Riku." Terra chuckled.

"I can't believe that, of the three of us, I'm the one that didn't end up with an accidental apprentice," he joked. Aqua felt her cheeks flush and she reached out to swat his shoulder. He didn't even try to dodge it, and after letting it land he set off towards the castle again. "Do you remember how long the Master spent warning us about stuff like that?"

"I wish he'd told us just how easy it was," she sighed, falling in step beside him. "I would have been a lot more careful."

"It might have protected you and Kairi, but I don't think the Master knew that what Ven did was even possible." Aqua wanted to laugh, but it stuck in her throat and she was forced to swallow it back down. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye and she tried not to grimace; his gaze felt awfully perceptive these days. "Do you regret it?"

"Yes," she answered, "and… and no." He cocked his head and she sighed. "She's a Princess of Heart; she was going to be a target for the darkness whether I showed up or not. And after hearing what Xehanort did to her-" Terra grimaced and her hands flew to her mouth. "Terra, I'm sorry, I didn't-"

"It's… it's fine," he sighed, though his gaze fell to the ground. "I… honestly it's a blur. I don't remember all that much of it." Aqua wanted so desperately to believe that he was lying… She didn't press the matter, and they lapsed in to silence until Terra nudged her gently with his shoulder. "What were you going to say?" She glanced up at him and he smiled encouragingly.

"Just… I think the spell I cast saved her life, and I wouldn't take it back," she said. "I don't regret her being my apprentice; I just regret that I couldn't be the master she deserved." Terra's smile faded a little at that and he glanced towards the castle again.

"I thought Riku would be my redemption," he said. "I just wanted to prove to the Master that I was worthy… but all I did was leave him to follow in my footsteps." Aqua reached out and placed a hand on his elbow.

"What happened to Riku was not your fault," she said firmly. "He was as much a victim of Xehanort as you were." Terra sighed.

"We were all his victims, in the end. But then…" He paused, coming to a halt once more. "Sometimes I wonder if Xehanort was a victim, too." Aqua stopped beside him with a frown.

"What do you mean?" He didn't answer at first, and he kept his eyes trained on the castle as his brow furrowed thoughtfully.

"Did I ever tell you about the first time I met Braig?" he said. The sudden change in topic threw Aqua off-guard and she shook her head. "It was in Radiant Garden, just after we defeated the giant Trinity Armour and we all… we went our separate ways." Aqua grimaced, remembering all too well the reason they had split up so soon after finding each other again. "He found me beneath the castle and told me that he was holding Xehanort hostage. We fought and I… I thought I won, but it was all part of Xehanort's plan to push me further towards the darkness." Aqua's eyes widened as she understood his meaning.

"You think Luxu was manipulating Xehanort the way Xehanort was manipulating you." He nodded once.

"Master Eraqus used to speak so highly of him," he said. "It always seemed so strange to think that Master Xehanort fell so far in to darkness, but what if he didn't fall? What if he was pushed?" Aqua shuddered. His words made sense, and it wasn't as though she hadn't had similar thoughts what with all this talk of Luxu and his Master, but the idea didn't sound any less daunting when spoken aloud. She shivered and Terra sighed heavily. "I'm sorry," he muttered. "We came for a walk to get our minds off of all of this." Aqua smiled a little.

"There are worse things to be thinking about." She'd meant it as a joke, but Terra wasn't laughing. Instead he was watching her with a tight expression, eyebrows upturned and eyes pinched with concern.

"Aqua-"

"We should get back," she said quickly, setting off once more. Terra reach out as she passed, holding her wrist tightly. His hands were so warm.

"Aqua," he repeated, his voice firm. Her throat tightened. "What did you mean by that?" She tried to pull away but he held her fast. "Talk to me. Please"

Aqua felt her phantom emerging, lifting its head and sending a cold spike of panic through her chest as it strangled her, swallowing her words whole. Terra was watching her expectantly, his dark eyes searching hers almost desperately, and it wasn't helping.

He doesn't know what it's like, her phantom whispered. He doesn't know how it feels. She tried not to listen, but the words echoed through her mind. Sometimes she envied Terra, even though she knew she shouldn't. For all that he had been through, he hadn't had to carry Ven's broken body back to the Land of Departure, leaving him behind with little more than a desperate hope that he would one day find his way back to her. He'd never had to experience the feeling of a friend's fingers tightening around his neck. He hadn't seen her fall to darkness; he'd never had to fight her. He hadn't spent nearly half his life wandering the Realm of Darkness, haunted by the memories of the friends he couldn't save.

The phantom was dragging up memories she'd taken great pains to bury, and the assault caught her off-guard. Terra's grip on her wrist was like a lifeline that kept her from drowning, and at the sound of his voice murmuring her name she finally managed a deep gasp of air.

"I can't lose you again." The words came out in a choked whisper and she bit her tongue to stifle the sob that was fighting its way up her throat. Her phantom was relentless; it seemed that it had spent the last few weeks of silence chipping away at Aqua's defences, and now that it finally had an opening it seemed determined to tear them down completely. Terra pulled her slowly towards him.

"You can't think like that," he said firmly. He placed a finger under her chin and lifted her face until he could look her in the eye. "We're going to win tomorrow. You have to believe that we're going to win."

"We won against Xehanort but we still lost Kairi and Sora," she said before she could stop herself. "I can't lose anyone else, Terra, especially-" She stopped herself. You. The word burned the tip of her tongue, waiting to be spoken, but her heart was wedged in her throat. He reached for her hands, turning her towards him.

"Hey," he murmured gently. "I'm right here with you. You'll never lose me again."

But you will, her phantom whispered. She felt it wrap its icy fingers around her heart and a chill spread through her chest. She clenched her eyes shut, trying to block out its words, but it was persistent. You'll never be able to keep them safe. Not when it matters.

"Aqua, look at me." Terra's voice was muffled; Aqua could barely hear him beneath her phantom's mocking laughter. The ice around her heart was coursing through her limbs, and when Terra's hand cupped her cheek the warmth from his fingers seared her skin.

Even if you do not lose them, they will leave you, her phantom whispered. Are you really worthy of being a keyblade Ma-

Something soft crashed against Aqua's lips. Her phantom fell silent as a sudden warmth rushed through her body, flushing the chill from her limbs. She was no longer frozen, but by the time she realised Terra was already pulling away.

"Terra," she whispered.

"I'm sorry," he said quickly, "but you weren't listening to me, and I was scared that if I hit you then you'd probably hit me back so I... I was just trying to help. I wasn't thinking, Aqua, I'm-"

She captured his lips with hers, clutching at his shirt and pulling him towards her. For a minute he was stunned, still as stone until at last he began to kiss her back. The warmth of his lips made her feel giddy and feverish, and for a moment nothing else mattered but the weight of him pressing against her. The feeling of his hand gliding down her arm sent shivers racing up her spine, and as his other hand cupped her cheek again she leant in to his touch, and just when she thought her heart might set itself ablaze he pulled back.

Terra's eyes looked glassy and darker than usual, and there was a deep flush across his tanned cheeks that Aqua felt echoed on her own. They were breathing heavily, clutching at each other tightly; his hand at the small of her back trembled as he studied her, his expression a mix of too many emotions for her to name.

"Aqua," he breathed. "Are you sure-"

"Yes." She'd never been so sure of anything in her life – sure that she wanted an end to the awkward way they'd been dancing around each other for the last three years. Sure that now he'd started kissing her, she never wanted him to stop. He kissed her again, gently this time but it wasn't gentleness she wanted, not after years of longing. She tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled him towards her, savouring the warmth of his body as it pressed against her, banishing any and all traces of the chill that had nearly devoured her mere moments before. Their hands explored every inch of each other; his fingers left rivers of fire over her skin while hers traversed his neck, his arms, his back.

Terra's phone chimed. The sudden sounds made Aqua jump and she pulled back, staring down at his pocket. His hands fumbled for the phone, and she didn't miss the way they trembled as he read the message.

"It's Ven," he said, his voice quiet and breathless. He turned the phone towards her and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust before she could read the message.

Are you and Aqua still out? You might want to head back soon, it's getting pretty late.

Aqua glanced at the time – pretty late was an understatement, given that it was now well past midnight. She handed the phone back to Terra, studying the shadows that played across his face as he typed out a response.

"What did you tell him?" she asked when he finally lowered the phone.

"Just that we're almost back at the castle and not to wait up for us." Aqua smiled a little.

"You know that won't stop him."

"Can you blame me for trying?" he asked through a laugh. It was deep and throaty and it made Aqua's cheeks burn. He slipped the phone back in to his pocket. "We should head back, though. It is late." Aqua nodded, though she felt her smile fall a little. Already she felt colder without him pressed against her, and she was relieved when he reached out to hold her hand as they began to walk back towards the castle.

She was surprised that Ven didn't meet them at the gates, and when they finally arrived in the West Wing she was relieved to find that he wasn't waiting there for them, either. The door to his room was closed. She glanced to Terra with a nervous smile and he answered with one of his own. Aqua's room was next to Ven's while Terra's was a few doors further down the hallway, though when he tried to bid her goodnight she squeezed his hand.

"Will you… Will you stay with me tonight?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Terra heard her nonetheless, and as his eyes widened she felt her cheeks burning. "I don't mean that we should… Not tonight… but, don't go?" Her phantom was silent for now, but Aqua wasn't convinced that it wouldn't resume its assault the moment Terra left her side. He relaxed a little, his shock melting in to a smile as he nodded.

"Of course."

The bed, while large, was not designed for two occupants – especially not one as broad as Terra. After much shuffling and wriggling (and more than a little bit of kissing), they managed to find a position that was comfortable for them both. Terra was lying against the wall, an arm tucked behind his head, and Aqua curled herself against his side, burying her face in the crook of his neck and draping an arm across his chest. As she began to drift to sleep she felt him wrap his arm around her, his fingers curling around her shoulder as he pressed a kiss in to her hair, and for the first time in weeks she fell easily in to a dreamless sleep.

I truly hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did. See you next time!