Chapter Three: Pity

Aqua wasn't sure what to make of the black-haired schizophrenic, even after a week. He always went back to his room after meals; that was the only time Aqua could get him to come out. After breakfast was over one day, he retreated back into his room as usual, leaving the other eight "crazies" out in the dining room.

Axel stood next to the blue-haired girl as she watched Vanitas go back to his room. "So, what do you make of him?" The anorexic asked.

"I don't know." Aqua replied truthfully. "He's… different. I mean, the first time I met him, he was panicked and frightened and almost acted like a child… but after he calmed down he acted like… well, how he does whenever you see him."

"Cold and cruel?"

"I suppose." She stood up. "I'm gonna go talk to him."

"Good luck." The redhead said and moved to talk to two blonds, one with extreme paranoia and the other with a case of panic disorder.

Aqua went back into the dorm hall, where twenty bedrooms, five unused, were. She went to the one where she knew Vanitas was, and opened the door.

"Ever heard of knocking?" Vanitas snapped.

"Yes, but I didn't feel like it today." Aqua replied, rolling her eyes.

"What do you want?" He asked, his cat-like eyes, glaring icily into her soul.

"Why don't you join us?" Aqua asked.

"Doing what?"

Aqua shrugged. "I dunno. Stuff."

"No thanks." He said. "My parents are supposed to call today."

"Your parents don't come to see you?" For Aqua, her family would come twice a month to see her.

Vanitas shrugged. "They usually don't even call." He said bitterly. "They say they will every week. I'm lucky if they calls every other month. But you know, you can always hope, right?" A bittersweet smile spread across his face. "What about you? You have both parents?"

Aqua gently smiled and nodded. "Yeah."

"What about siblings?"

"I have… my little sister. I used to have a big brother, but, he's gone." She sighed.

"Oh. I'm sorry. If you don't mind me—"

"He and I had gotten kidnapped." Aqua replied, knowing what he was going to ask. "He was shot to death just an hour before I was rescued." She felt hot streams of tears running down her face, but didn't care.

"That's why?" He asked.

"Why what?"

"You're here. PTSD?"

Aqua nodded and wiped the tears from her eyes. Terra wouldn't want to see me so sad. She told herself and looked back at Vanitas. "But it doesn't really matter why we're here. It's who's here that matters." She reached a hand out towards him. "Come on, why don't we go make some more friends?"

Vanitas looked at Aqua's hand, and then her eyes. The blue-haired girl gently gave him a reassuring smile as she saw that brief child-like fear flash through his eyes. Finally, he nodded. "Okay." And so, they exited the room again, hand in hand, moving towards the courtyard.

A few hours later, as Vanitas was getting acquainted with two other patients, Larxene and Marluxia, Aqua called home.

"Hey Mom. I miss you too, but I know I'm gonna get better because of this. I've made some friends here, as well. They're nice and they struggle too. We help each other. It's really touching sometimes, the group therapies." There was silence for a bit. "Hey, Mom, when are you guys going to come back here? Well, I was hoping you could do me a favor." Aqua paused a moment. "Do you know Seifer and Fuu Almasy?"

Destiny: Time to answer reviews!

Chupo: Heh. Yes, Terra's dead. Not with Xehanort. Xehanort's not a real person, just Vanitas's nightmare. Thank you for your compliments.
xXxGothicButterflySpiritxXx: I like both TerQua and VanQua. But I wanted to do a pairing I haven't done yet, so VanQua it is!
St. Iggy the Pyro: First off, awesome screen name. And yeah, I know. I wanted to do something different. Sora's in here, but for a different reason. And my goal is to make Vanitas cold and cruel enough that he's in character, but add this little sprinkle of child-like fear and innocence that the audience feels sorry for him and grows to love him. And thanks, I will.

Axel: So, are all the others going to be introduced ever?
Destiny: You guys are cameos. In the main story I'm working on, you all play a bigger role, but this is mainly about Aqua and Vanitas.
Roxas: We were in this chapter!
Demyx: Yay!
Destiny: Yeah. So, review, dears, and I'll see you tomorrow!