Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts.

Chapter 10 – Warning


A week went by before Ven managed to speak with Terra again. And he had questions.

"Terra, why is it so important that you and Aqua being together be kept a secret?" was his first question. They were having lunch together in the kitchen.

"There are two reasons," Terra said as he bit into a ham sandwich. "One, I'm not letting Caelum get in the way of my relationship with her. Second, our Master can't find out."

"Why not?" Ven asked.

"It's… a law… for Keyblade wielders, that is," Terra answered.

"A law?"

"Keyblade wielders aren't allowed to fall in love with anyone. If Master Eraqus found out, he wouldn't be happy."

"Why is it so wrong to fall in love if you're a Keyblade wielder?" Ven asked.

"If you fall in love, it's likely the one you love will become the main focus of your attention. Keyblade Masters have duties to the worlds and that needs to go above anything else. The same goes for your family members." Terra tore another bite from his sandwich.

"That's stupid," Ven said. "If you fall in love, you should be allowed to be with the person you love." The boy chomped down on a turkey leg.

"You're wise for a kid," Terra said. "How is it possible for a nine-year-old to know so much about love?"

"Those girls in the sewing rooms are always yakking about how they want to fall in love," Ven said. "And they spew stuff like that. They tell me the stuff like I'd actually care. It drives me nuts!"

"Do you care at all?" Terra inquired.

"Nope." Ven tore off more meat from his turkey leg and chewed before continuing. "But I can see you care about it with Aqua."

"Well, you're not gonna judge us for being in love, are you?"

"Just as long as I don't need to hear about it. That's the only thing about it that annoys me. And those crazy girls. UGH!" Ven banged his head against the wall he was leaning against. Terra chuckled.

"Don't hurt yourself, Ven," Terra said.

"Ventus!" a voice called.

"ACK! It's them!" Ven jumped off the counter he was sitting on and hid under the nearest table. Unfortunately, it had no table cloth and the two girls who came to get him spotted him right away. Even with the wideness of Terra's pant legs hiding him.

Terra skirted around the fight the instant the girls saw him. They grabbed Ven and started dragging him away, biting and kicking.

"Lemme go! Lemme go!" Ven squealed.

"Ventus, you need to be prompt when your grandmother needs you!" the girls said. "Now, get moving!"

"Leave me alone!" Desperate to get away, Ven stomped on one girl's foot and hit the other in the shin.

"OW!" the girls squealed. They let go and Ven raced away as fast as his legs could carry him.

"Ventus, get back here!" the girls screeched. Ven neither listened nor cared. He just wanted to get away as fast as possible.

Terra had watched the entire hallway squabble from the kitchen doorway and cracked up at the sight. He also noticed that Ven had run even faster than should be normal for a nine-year-old, even with his impressive speed.

He suspected Ven's speed was the sign of a Keyblade getting ready to choose him. He'd be able to fulfill his promise to the boy after all.

"Terra, glad I found you."

Terra faced the opposite direction of which Ven had been chased and saw King Nox approaching him.

"Your Majesty."

"Please come with me," Nox said. "I need to talk with you in private."

"Of course, Sir," Terra replied.

The king led the Keyblade Master to his private work chambers. Nox pulled a ring of keys out of his robe sleeve and unlocked the door, gesturing for his guest to go in first. The king shut the door and grabbed a nearby cloth, sliding it under the crack at the bottom.

"Your Majesty?" Terra was completely confused by the king's actions. What was so important that the king was acting this way?

"I can't risk us being eavesdropped on by my son or Eraqus," Nox explained, making sure the cloth was secure under the door.

"Why…?"

"I need to talk to you. Concerning your relationship with Aqua."

Terra's eyes popped. How did Nox know?

"I have no clue—"

"Don't lie to me, Master Terra," the king said, using Terra's formal title. "I know you both are involved in a romance with each other."

"How… how do you…?" the earth knight stuttered.

"I've watched you grow up with her for years and I've noticed how angry you get when my son attempts to flirt with her. I know you love her. And I know that she loves you."

When the young man didn't respond, Nox continued, "I called you in here to warn you about what my son might possibly do."

Terra finally found his voice and said, "I thought you would maybe rat me out to Eraqus or something."

"I would never do that, even for Keyblade wielders, whom I know aren't allowed to fall in love. Eraqus told me that law so that I would know to tell Caelum. And I've tried to get him to listen, but he won't. He's too determined to make Aqua his bride."

"What?" Terra hissed.

"I don't support his desires, Terra." Nox started pacing. "I can see plain as day that Aqua wants to be with you more than anyone. She will never love my son. I know she dislikes him. Sometimes, I'm the same."

"Why are you telling me all this?"

"I'm a true romantic. When I see that two people couldn't be more right for each other, I support their love and hope to see it end happily for them. That's how I felt when I found my wife, Caelum's mother. I've never been able to look at another woman like that. And I hope the same will happen for my son. It's just…"

"He doesn't realize that the girl he wants doesn't love, or even like, him," Terra finished. "Is there any way to get him to give up?"

"I don't think that's possible. Caelum is determined to get what he wants. And he wants Aqua more than he's ever wanted anything in his life. He just doesn't understand that she clearly isn't interested."

"Caelum and I have been hostile towards each other since puberty," Terra huffed. "And we both developed feelings for Aqua around the same time."

"I'm aware. But I've noticed how Aqua looks at Caelum and how she looks at you. She looks at Caelum nervously. She looks at you like a person seeing light for the first time. You look at her the same way."

"If it wasn't for that stupid law of Keyblade wielders… I… I…" Terra stopped. It would be too embarrassing.

"You'd want to spend the rest of your life with her, wouldn't you?"

Silence. Then…

"Yes. I want to spend all the time I have left with Aqua. I love her more than I thought was possible for me to love anyone."

"True love," Nox said. "It's a powerful thing. Now, do whatever you can to protect the girl you love from my son. And keep yourself safe from him while you're at it. Caelum would do anything. Possibly… even…"

"I get it. You don't have to say it."

"Well, heed my words, Terra."

"I will. Thank you, King Nox."

"You can leave."

Terra bowed and went to the door, removing the cloth from underneath first. He opened it and prepared to step out.

"One more thing, Terra," the king said.

"Yes?"

"Your heart has guided you thus far with Aqua. Let it continue to guide you through this difficult time for you both."

"I will."

Terra slipped out and silently left to ponder the king's advice.


Complications… they suck. But hey, it adds drama.

And the king is on Terra's side over his own son? How will Caelum react? Hmmm… you'll find out later. And I needed to add a message related to the story's title. That's why it's in this chapter.

Review please?