After the conversations with both Terra and Aqua, Akari resolved herself to staying on the island till Ven came. She believed that if both of his friends had come, he would be next. Then, once she was certain he was okay, she would finally go home As she walked around the island, she lifted the wayfinder to the setting sun. It was so beautiful, and shimmered as the sun shone through the glass. She still couldn't believe this was hers.

"Fancy charm you have there." A voice drawled. Akari whipped around, instantly recoginzing that voice.

"Va-Vanitas!" Akari exclaimed in surprise. The masked boy sat above her, looking down from the bridge that tied the two islands

together. His posture was rather casual, his legs crossed and his head leaning against his hand as he looked down at the young girl.

"So… you're waiting for Ventus?" Akari stepped back.

"Ho-how did you know that?" Her voice quivered. SHe may have gotten away last time, but that didn't guarantee anything right now. Vanitas's mask didn't look away from Akari's blue eyes.

"Well, don't worry. He'll be here soon." Vanitas rose and stood on the bridge. He turned and looked away.

"In fact, he should be here, now." Akari's eyes widened. She glanced at the shadow cast by the bridge. A bright white light suddenly flickered and then, a portal was crackling, changing from blue to purple. It was one of those gateways to the Lanes Between. She breathed in as all of a sudden, a boy's body was flung through the portal. His body landed on the sand and he groaned before getting up and running to the portal.

"Wait! Terra!" His arm was out to reach the portal but it closed. He reached out his arm to touch the piece of armor on his shoulder but someone called his name.

"Ven!" Akari ran over to him. The blonde haired glanced at Akari.

"What are you doing here?" He asked incredulously. Akari crossed her arms.

"I live over there." She pointed across the sea to the small town in the distance. Ven looked around at the island. She was about to bombard him with questions when someone interrupted her.

"Going somewhere?" Vanitas asked, slyly. Akari immediately jumped back and turned around, remembering Vanitas was on the bridge. Ven's face tensed as he stepped in front of Akari and glared at Vanitas.

"I'm through with you!" Ven told Vanitas as he turned away to Akari.

"Well I'm just getting started with you." Vanitas replied. Akari was watching Ven but her eyes snapped up to Vanitas. Ven just kept walking. "You're strong enough now to fulfill your purpose." He explained. His hand, harmlessly resting at his side, suddenly had a keyblade in it. "So what are you waiting for? Join with me right here and now." Ven stopped walking and Akari's eyes flashed to him. She suddenly found herself very scared. Vanitas's next words shocked her.

"Become the X-blade."

"Huh!" She whirled around but Vanitas was solely focused on Ven. She looked back at Ven with confusion in her eyes but his back was towards her. His hands balled into fists as he shook his head.

"No. I won't do it. He told me the only way the X-blade could be forged was if you and me fight. Well guess what? I'm not fighting." Akari glanced at Vanitas, and noticed how Ven was mirrored in his mask.

"You used to be too broken to talk back." Vanitas mused, recalling a memory. Ven suddenly clutched his head and groaned.

Akari ran over to him.

"Ven!" He couldn't hear her. All he felt was a shocking pain in his head as memories began flooding in, of how he was Xehanort's apprentice and how Vanitas was created. How he had been too weak to fight against the darkness. Akari watched, helpless. Vanitas finally spoke, while Ven remembered.

"Fine, then I'll give you a reason to fight." This shocked Ven back. He turned to Vanitas.

"What!" Vanitas seemed to be smug.

"Come and find me...at the one and only place to spawn the X-blade." Akari's heart stopped.

No...no! Not there!

She knew which place. She had a strong feeling.

"The Keyblade Graveyard." Vanitas said. "There, you're gonna see me choke the life out of Terra and Aqua. Then we'll see how long you play the pacifist."

"NO!" Akari shouted and Vanitas turned to her, remembering she was there.

"Oh, don't worry. We'll let you see some of the show too." He turned.

"Wait!" Ven called, but darkness swallowed him up and he vanished. Ven ran and looked at the place where Vanitas had stood. He pulled something out of his pocket, breathing hard as he stared at it.

"Terra, Aqua." His hand closed around it, the green and yellow wayfinder charm gifted to him. "I swear I'll put an end to this." He summoned his keyblade but Akari grabbed his arm, yanking him and pulling him off balance. He stumbled but turned towards her.

"Ven! What's gonna happen to them!" The blonde haired boy stopped for a minute. He scanned her and looked at her fist, where she clutched something with a brown string.

"What's that?" He asked. Akari opened her fist to reveal the silver charm Aqua had gifted her, similar to Ven's. Ven looked at her in surprise.

"Aqua gave it to me." Her eyes softened and she clutched it to her chest. Ven's eyes widened and he rose.

"Don't worry Akari. I'll protect you, Terra, and Aqua. I'll make sure Vanitas doesn't get his way." He ruffled the girl's hair before spinning his keyblade and pointing it upward, summoning a portal to the Lanes Between. He summoned his armor and keyblade glider and vanished into the portal, leaving Akari alone once more, her fears growing, and her heart panicking. She clutched the wayfinder tighter as a tear fell from her eye.

"What's going to happen to my friends…?"