Set in Disney Town, the Lanes Between, and Destiny Islands.
Hmm... Three settings in one Chapter. Weird.

Have I mentioned I hate writing Battle Scenes? Hahaha! Well, I do.
So it means so much to me that you thought the one I wrote was decent. Thank you.

I originally planned to post this much later, but I just could not wait.
I'm telling you. Your excitement and your happiness and your eagerness; contagious. I am powerless against it.
I hope you like this Chapter, because I liked writing it. Especially the first part, where I put tiny bits of humor to give you a breather.

Also, this was supposed to be the last Chapter, simply because I have yet to figure out what they'll do next.
There is an empty space between this Chapter and the ending I have in mind.
I'm thinking, though.

For now, enjoy.
And I'm crossing my fingers, hoping my attempts at humor will at least make you smile. Hahaha!

DISCLAIMER [I do not own Kingdom Hearts] DISCLAIMER

ESCAPE

A way to break free from destiny…

Vanitas emerged in Disney Town. He had time to kill; it would be a while before Terra and Ventus finish their part and he would be needed again. He was unsure why he chose to go to this world, though, of all places. It was simply the first place that came to mind. Just like on his last visit, he bought new clothing, treated himself to an ice cream – unconsciously the very same one that Aqua bought him – and sat on one of the benches at the Main Plaza.

At once, memories of Aqua overwhelmed him. They were not many, but they were vivid. He could remember every single detail, down to the pitch of her voice and the slightest changes in her expressions. Frowning, he wondered why it was that she affected him this way. He was with her for only a few hours; logic would say he should not feel this strong of an attachment yet. And further logic, considering the darkness in his heart, would say that he should not feel an attachment at all.

He ruffled his hair in frustration. Why was everything about Aqua so illogical? Why could he not explain any of this? What was wrong with him? His heart trembled and he scratched absent-mindedly at his chest. The stupid thing had a mind of its own. He could still feel the same emotions; selfishness, rage, jealousy… But there was something else – something new – that somehow managed to govern all those other feelings, something that even his mind could not control or identify. And what Vanitas would not give just to find out what it was.

He nibbled on his ice cream, as he dug into his pocket to pull out a photograph. The last time he looked at it was the moment she had let him keep it. He studied her face, admired her smile, and buried himself in her eyes. Then, just because her cheek was pressed against his, he was forced to look at his own face in the picture, too.

"I look like a rat," he muttered to himself.

"A cute rat," she had answered.

"There is no such thing as a cute rat. How could you wear the same thing and not look like a rat?"

He shoved those thoughts away, pocketing the photo, and focused on chewing and swallowing the last bit of his ice cream cone. He tried to think of something else, like how Master Xehanort would disapprove of him eating ice cream. The old man would probably hit him thrice over the head with his Keyblade for doing such an offensive thing.

"I expressly forbade you from partaking of that creamy, frozen sweetness! How dare you disobey my orders?" Yes, that sounded like something the old fool would say, coupled with a pulse of thunder or whatever other means of torture he felt like using. Vanitas chuckled.

And, for a few seconds, his mind was free of Aqua. But then, thinking of Master Xehanort only led him to…

"Aqua has a perfect heart. You have only half a heart, Vanitas, or have you forgotten?"

Vanitas grabbed his head and shut his eyes tightly at remembering his conversation with the Master. It had been his only hope of having Aqua in some way, and Xehanort had dashed even that to the ground, crushing that possibility into impossibility. He wished he could just break free somehow…

"Aqua," he pleaded, though he knew she must be worlds away. "Just take me away from here."

He had no idea why he was begging her, but he was sure he meant every word. He wanted to be free of this, to be rid of that need to obey Master Xehanort.

To be my own person, his mind echoed.

To be hers, his heart whispered.

He selfishly wanted her to make everything okay. But as if she would listen to him, after she learns his true identity. And even if by some miracle she did decide to help him, what could she do? Nothing…

Vanitas could not escape destiny. He could not ignore his purpose. He was created for this. Without it, his existence was meaningless. Without following Xehanort's plan, his life would be hollow. Without the X-Blade and Keyblade War, his future is empty.

But without Aqua... Meaningless, hollow, and empty; the same words resonated in his heart.

Master Xehanort was right. His obsession with her has gone too far, and he screamed inwardly at not knowing why.

"Well, look who we have here!"

Vanitas looked up and groaned at seeing that horse-man that Aqua had helped. What was his name? Horace? And Vanitas was amused at how close that name came to sounding like horse face.

"What are you doing all by your lonesome? Kids like yourself shouldn't be alone," the horse asked and that killed the amusement that Vanitas was feeling. Must everyone treat him like a helpless child?

"What do you want?" he spat, too annoyed to even pretend to be a decent person. Not that he wanted to pretend; that was something he would only ever do for Aqua.

"You're Aqua's friend, right?" the horse asked.

Thanks a lot, you freakish animal. It was hard enough to get her out of my head without you poking her name into my skull. But Vanitas did not say that out loud. He merely shrugged in answer to the question. Was he her friend? He wasn't sure. He and Aqua hadn't quite figured that out yet.

"She was looking for you, during the Awards Ceremony," Horace said. And, with a rather disappointed and disapproving look, he added, "You're one awful friend, upsetting her like that."

"What?"

"She said you left without even saying goodbye or anything," the horse explained, shaking his head. "Now that makes you an awful friend in my book, leaving her so upset."

Vanitas scowled at Horace. I did tell her I probably wasn't going to see her. She's an idiot for hoping that I would, his mind argued. His heart though… She wanted to see me; she was upset that I was gone.

Aloud, he said, "Just mind your own business and leave me alone."

"Oh, I will, you don't have to be so snappy about it," Horace replied, chuckling a bit. "She just told me to tell you – if I ever ran into you – that she would be sure to visit as soon as she can. And if you're old enough then, you can ask her again."

"I… Ask her what?" Vanitas questioned. For some strange reason, his heart was already dancing about gleefully. The stupid thing needed a leash. Or a cage; a very small cage…

"She didn't tell me," Horace answered. "Well, I'll see you around!"

"Hang on," Vanitas called.

The horse stopped and faced him with a smile and questioning look.

"Did she win?" Vanitas asked.

Horace nodded. "Yes, she did! I sure am glad I voted for her!" And with that, he left, whistling as he went.

And Vanitas smiled. He was glad he voted for her, too. But despite that ounce of happiness, he was also unbearably annoyed and angry. What did she mean he could ask her again?

"If you were any older, it would have felt like you were asking me out on a date."

"I am old enough to ask you out on a date!"

He suddenly slapped a hand to his forehead. Damn it, she's teasing me! He groaned, frustrated. He was now far more conflicted than he had been only moments earlier.

Vanitas remained in Disney Town for a long time, not really in the mood to go anywhere else. But he remained out of sight, choosing to stay in areas where there were fewer people. He was not keen on having another awkward, annoying conversation with another walking-talking animal.

He spent much of his time hanging around rooftops. And at this particular moment, dressed once more in his usual suit, he scratched impatiently at his arm as he overlooked the town. He hummed softly, the same silly nursery rhyme he was singing before. He had no idea why, but being in Disney Town reminded him of that stupid song.

"A penny for a spool of thread, a penny for a needle…"

The lyrics did not even make sense to him. What does it mean, pop goes the weasel? It explodes? He laughed darkly at the thought. Still, he could not – for the life of him – figure out where he had learned the song in the first place. He blamed Ventus. It must be a childhood memory or something. And at recalling Ventus, he breathed deeply and tried to clear his mind. He needed to focus on that boy.

"Ven is a friend of mine…"

He cursed under his breath. Why must every thought lead him back to Aqua? He shifted a little, his legs dangling over the edge of the rooftop, and focused again. He needed to remain conscious of his link with his lighter half in order to keep track of Ventus' whereabouts. If Master Xehanort's predictions proved true, Ventus would soon be catapulted off the Land of Departure. Vanitas was to follow him, and convince him to fight.

He lazily brushed the heel of his boot against the wall, groaning. He could still sense that Ventus had yet to leave the Land of Departure. What was taking so long? All the waiting was killing him and his stomach had begun growling.

"Come on, why don't we go have some ice cream?"

He slipped off his helmet and ruffled his hair. Again, she invaded his mind. He slammed the front of his helmet against his forehead and for a moment, his thoughts cleared. He was able to concentrate on Ventus, and he smirked, hastily wearing the mask once more. His lighter half was no longer at the Land of Departure. Standing up, he walked to the center of the rooftop and, keeping the image of Ventus' location in mind – he opened a Dark Corridor.

Aqua left Destiny Islands with a heavy heart. She could feel a storm coming and she was uncertain if she and her friends would be able to withstand it.

As she traversed the Lanes Between, she suddenly thought of all the other friends she had made on her journey. Her thoughts lingered the most on Van, and a weak smile perched on her lips. All that her new friends would have of her were happy memories. And all Van would recall of her were games and ice cream, and that picture they took. She wondered how long it would be before she could smile the way she had in that photo.

Just then, she saw something shimmering in the distance. She squinted at it, frowning. "Is that… Mickey?"

Suddenly overcome with worry, she rushed towards his side. She pulled him into her arms, wondering what could have happened to cause him to float adrift in the Lanes Between.

"Master Yen… Sid…" the mouse mumbled almost incoherently.

Aqua's brows creased with concern. "Don't worry. I'll take you back to him."

Vanitas emerged onto what looked like a tropical island. But there was no time to admire – or criticize – his surroundings. He was standing on a bridge of sorts and below that, on the sandy shore, was Ventus.

"Going somewhere?" Vanitas asked Ventus just before the blonde could activate his armor.

"I'm through with you!" Ven snapped as he saw who had addressed him. Then he began to walk away from Vanitas.

But the masked apprentice did not plan on letting him leave. "Well, I'm just getting started with you." Because, apparently, you are my only choice. "You're strong enough now to fulfill your purpose." He summoned his Keyblade. "So what are you waiting for? Join with me right here and now. Become the X-Blade."

Ventus stopped walking. "No, I won't do it." He looked over his shoulder at Vanitas. "He told me the only way the X-Blade can be forged is if you and me fight. Well, guess what? I'm not fighting."

Vanitas stared at him, glad that his mask kept all his emotions hidden. "You used to be too broken to talk back," he muttered, and Ventus was suddenly overcome by a piercing headache.

The darkness within Vanitas rippled with amusement. It pleased him to see Ventus in pain. It alleviated his frustrations for a moment, seeing someone else suffer. And knowing that it was his birth that caused Ventus this much suffering only served to heighten his amusement. That and the fact that he was aware that his hatred for Ventus seemed to have grown exponentially due to recent events…

"I don't know how I could have mistaken you for Ven…"

Of all the things Aqua told him, that was among his favorites. He was nothing like Ventus. He was better in every way. He was better for her…

"I don't think he enjoys my company half as much as… Well, he just likes spending more time with our other friend."

Vanitas watched Ventus grab at his head for a moment longer, groaning in pain. Then, he muttered, "Fine. Then I'll give you a reason to fight."

"What?" Ventus demanded, glaring at him.

"Come and find me…" Vanitas answered. "At the one and only place to spawn the X-Blade; the Keyblade Graveyard. There, you're gonna see me choke the life out of Terra and Aqua." A threat on Terra's life would have sufficed. But Vanitas was furious. This boy – who had no idea what he had – needed to begin imagining just what it would be like to lose her. It was as close as Ventus could get to feeling just how Vanitas felt. "Then we'll see how long you play the pacifist."

"Wait!" Ventus shouted. But Vanitas paid his call no mind, disappearing into a Dark Corridor. He allowed himself to be swallowed by the darkness, the shadows wiping out the sun and sea and sand.

Thank You

~Alacquiene~