{mask of flesh}

Xion had not expected the boy to sit across from her, nor did she smile when he leaned forward and rested his head in his hands. There was something eerie about the way he moved, the way he looked, the way he existed, and it made Xion want to run. Instead, she spoke.

"Who are you?" she asked dumbly, her hand falling to her lap. Her fingers tightened on her knife instinctively.

"Just a passerby," he said easily, his voice low and everything about him reeked of death.

"Are you?" Xion regarded him with a blank stare, but she got no reaction. The mask he wore bore her reflection on the shiny black surface.

"I am," he said, and he lifted a glass, pouring wine into it, and offering it out to her. "A drink, my lady?"

Her eyes narrowed. Perhaps this was what Terra's warning had been about. "No thank you," she said coolly, and she stood up, intending to leave him where he sat. But he caught her by the arm, faster than she had thought possibly, and he spun her around so she could face him.

"Hey!" Xion cried, struggling to rip her arm free, and the boy laughed. She flushed in anger, and without thinking she took a swipe at him with her knife. That shut him up well enough.

She'd caught him in the arm, fabric tearing and blood spewing from the wound. She gaped as it pooled black, gushing and hissing as if it were aflame. Before she could scream, the back of his hand was against her cheek, and the knife went clattering to the cobblestone.

"Strike me again, my lady bitch, and I'll gut you right here," he spat at her, and she could almost feel the spittle on her face. His mask kept her from seeing his face, and that frightened her to no end.

"Leave me alone!" Xion shrieked, struggled against his grasp, and his laugh sent a shudder down her spine.

"Oh, shut up and listen," he sighed, boredom catching his tone. "I saw you speaking with the blue haired one. Tell me about her."

"You're kidding me," she said flatly, her eyes flitting over his mask, hoping to catch sight of his face. "What do you want with her?"

"That really is not your concern, blood maid." He seemed to chuckle at his own nickname for her. "Tell me what you know of her."

"I only just talked to her that one time," Xion gasped, hoping it didn't sound like a lie. It was the truth, but it didn't feel like it. "I can't tell you anything you probably don't already know!"

"Then tell me of the man who was with her." The boy didn't seem to be angry that Xion appeared not to know anything, and she swallowed hard. "Terra, was it? The prince of this damned land."

"I wouldn't know," Xion blurted, remembering all Terra had taught her about safety. Never say too much to strangers. "He's the prince?"

"The queen just announced it, you little fool." The man seemed angry now, and Xion whimpered, and nodded.

"I didn't hear!" she gasped as he grabbed for the knife she'd dropped and pressed it against her cheek.

"What use are those pretty little ears then, I wonder?" He pressed the blade so close to her skin, she bled beads of red that slipped down her cheek. Xion cried out in surprise, the sting of the cut making her eyes water.

"Vanitas!" Xion heard a soft voice cry out, and her eyes flickered to the blur of white that approached. It was the girl she'd followed under the table earlier, her blue eyes wide and frightened, and her mouth agape. "What are you doing?"

"It's really, really obvious what I'm doing, kitten," Vanitas said without a care, and Xion heard a smirk in his tone. "Go on and dance with that blond bastard, if that's what you wish. Just remember that I'm not done with you yet."

"You saw…?" The girl trailed off, looking confused, but she started up again without finishing that sentence. "That is not my wish, Vanitas."

"Oh?" The boy cocked his head at her. "And what is, might I ask?"

"I wish for us to leave," the girl said in a hushed voice, and once again Vanitas laughed. He left the girl scowling as he grabbed her by the neck. She didn't look quite as frightened as Xion felt, her eyes defiant, and her jaw set.

"Tell you what," Vanitas said casually. "I'll kill the prince's precious pet right here, and then I'll take you back to the ship and lock you in your cabin. You won't go anywhere near Roxas, is that clear?"

"No." It surprised Xion how strong the girl appeared now that she had something to defend. "Leave the girl alone, Vanitas, please. I'll go with you, I won't speak to Roxas, and I won't fight. But let us leave now."

"I still have business here."

"Then kill me now," she said, her voice quivering. "Kill me now and get it over with, because if you kill this girl you're not taking me back to that ship alive!"

"Wow. I guess it was only a matter of time you learned the dramatics of it all." He pushed Xion away, and the girl stumbled back with a gasp. She cupped her bleeding cheek and stared at the blonde girl, who looked desperately at Xion, her bravery nothing but a transparent mask. She looked like she was ready to pass out. "Lucky for you, I can't take up that offer. You have something I need."

"Of course," she murmured, her courage gone. "Can we leave?"

"Did my old pet not please you?" He sounded amused. "Pity that, but if he knew you like I know you, he'd hate you all the same."

"You don't know me," she said, and he laughed that awful laugh of his. Xion and the girl cringed.

"I know you better than you know yourself, kitten." And with that, he pulled her by the arm and disappeared into the night. Xion sat on the cold cobble, her eyes wide, and her thoughts on Terra, stupid Terra, who had not thought to tell Aqua about his royal title out of fear of how she'd look upon him. And now it was too late.

Her stepmother had announced it to the entire kingdom, it seemed, and all she could hear were the whispers of Terra, Prince Terra, who'd run after a faerie girl. But Aqua, she's not a faerie, Xion thought with confusion. Terra would know if she was a faerie.

Xion was finding it very hard to breathe.

"Terra, stop!" Aqua cried, tearing her arm from his grasp. He blinked at her fearfully, and she found herself feeling a little guilty. "Terra… the queen… she said…"

"I should've told you," he blurted, his blue eyes wide. "I should've told you the moment I found out you were a girl. The moment we swore not to keep secrets from each other. But I had to keep this from you, Aqua."

Aqua stared at him flatly for a long while. Then she said, "I don't understand."

He looked sad, his tanned face sculpted from shadows in the torchlight, and he shook his head. "You know what the queen was announcing, Aqua."

"The…" Aqua trailed off, staring confusedly at Terra. The truth hit her as she spoke it. "She was introducing the prince for the first time."

"Yes, she was."

Aqua stared at him, her jaw tightening and her fists clenching as Terra stared at her, his eyes making her believe what she refused to. "No," she said in defiance, turning away from him.

"I didn't want you to find out like this… I thought I had more time."

"No!" she screamed, pushing him away when he got close to her. "You… can't be the prince. You're a knight!"

"I trained with knights," he admitted feebly. "My mother never let the common folk see my face out of fear of assassinations. I acted as a knight, and I am one, I guess, but I am the heir to the kingdom. And I'm of an age where I can become king."

"Shut up," she said rapidly, her mind swimming with confusion and betrayal. "King! Terra, you can't be king! You're not a king."

"Thank you for your vote of confidence, it really makes me feel good about myself."

"Stop!" She felt hysterical now as she realized her life was gone. He was the reason she dressed like a boy half the time, him and his sword, and his funny words, and his stubbornness to get a warrior out of her, and his stupid friendship. Everything about him that she loved would be stripped from him, and he'd just be another man, hard and unyielding, as most authorities were. "Stop it, Terra!"

"You're taking this way worse than I imagined you would," he whispered, understanding etched on his face. "Aqua, this is why I never told you! I thought you'd hate me!"

"I don't hate you, you idiot!" she shrieked, tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm scared for you. King, Terra! You cannot be king."

"I will be, though," he said, frowning. "Sooner than I'd like."

"And I'll never see you," she said bitterly, her tears running freely against her glass mask. "It's all over, isn't it? We'll never be friends now!"

"We can!" He grasped her hands in his, and she stared at him with wide eyes. "We can, Aqua, please just hear me out."

"I'm listening," she whispered, tasting salty tears in her mouth. "But nothing you suggest will work. Terra, don't be a prince, please…"

"I'm so sorry." He sounded genuine, but Aqua was so angry with him for never telling her, she wanted to smack him across the face. She could lose her hand for that now. Or her head. Probably her head.

"I don't want to not be friends with you," Aqua said, trembling. "I… gods, I feel so dumb! You bastard, you hid it well, too! I never knew… how could I know? Maybe I do hate you!" She slid her hands from his and pushed him again, hard. Her head be damned, it made her feel better to release her anger a little. "I hate that you lied, and I hate that you treated me like I was special! I hate that you let me believe that you were common, that you could abandon your vows if you wished! I hate you!"

"Do you?" he asked quietly, his face stony. "Do you really, Aqua?"

"Yes." She gritted her teeth and glared up at him, her fists trembling at her sides. "You made me believe that I had a friend that I could rely on, and that was all a sham. So yes, Prince Terra, I hate you." And with that, she spun on her glass heel, and ran. The glass clinked against the cobble, and Terra shouted after her, but she ran onward, gathering her skirt as she reached a stairwell, and she cried out as she felt a crack on her left foot. She shook her head and let her foot slide out of the slippers, and she leapt from the stairwell, landing easily on bare feet.

She abandoned the glass slippers there, glad to be rid of the burdens.

Kairi followed Riku without a word, swimming in the narrow waterway with a small smile. She'd get what she wanted. She would. But perhaps this was too much… the king of the faeries was not known for his kindness.

Still, she moved without question, hoping that the Seelie king would hear her out. Riku did not seem to be too interested in her, but Kairi wondered about his connection to the human boy. Faeries didn't like humans much, that was a thing that seemed to be certain. And yet, she was finding more and more faeries who tended to go out of their way for the creatures she was desperate to become one of.

"You care about Sora?" Kairi spoke finally, and Riku glanced down at her.

"Obviously," he said with a short laugh. "I would not bother with this if I didn't. He's my only friend."

Kairi thought about Ven, and she submerged herself in hopes that she'd crush the hurting. Swimming faster, she wondered if she'd ever see Ventus again. But then, he always had a knack for finding her. When she pushed face up, breaking the water, she found herself in a throne room. It was breathtaking, the white marble floor carved into an intricate dip, so the ocean would meet it. The throne itself looked as if it was made of ice, arching upward with frosty spikes brushing the ceiling.

The king was sitting, looking to be asleep, with his head rested against his fist. Ashen hair framed his face, curling inwards and outwards, and a smile quirked at the corners of his lips. The sight of him made Kairi want to slip back under the water, but Riku seemed to only gain more confidence, as if the presence of the king made him livelier.

"Your grace," Riku said, his voice clipped in formality. "I must ask that you awaken."

The smile stretched into a smirk, but the rest of the king's body did not move. "Oh, don't bother asking," he said, his voice startlingly high. "I'm perfectly awake."

"Can you address a king like that?" Kairi whispered worriedly, thinking of what her father would think of this. No one treated the ruler of the ocean so familiarly, not even her.

"No," Riku said, and Kairi thought she could almost see him smile. "But I tend to be on the good side of most royalty."

"That's true enough." The king's eyes opened, and Kairi stared in slight awe at the deep violet hue of them. Against the white around them, the king's eyes seemed to glow. "Thank you for actually responding to my call this time, Riku, that was so kind of you." His smile made Kairi's stomach churn.

"You're angry with me?" Riku frowned. "I'm no knight of yours. I did not need to follow your command."

"Oh, don't be silly," the king laughed, a simper that caused Kairi to stare blankly at him. "If I was angry with you, you'd know. I'm just bitter that you found a place for yourself, and perhaps I had hoped you would return your service to me." His smirk turned to a grin, and he shook his head. "Whatever."

"Why would you want me as a knight?" Riku's confusion was so painfully obvious, Kairi wondered if he was half human, the way he showed his emotions. But then, he did spend so much time with them, it seemed… "I'm not loyal to you, and even oath can't stop ambition."

"Do you wish to be king?"

"No," Riku said, "but that's not the point."

"The point doesn't matter," the king said, waving his hand. "Your loyalty doesn't either. I didn't call for you to make you bend the knee, I don't care for that."

"What do you care for then, your grace?" Riku asked placidly.

The king shrugged, and then his attention turned to Kairi. The mermaid stiffened under the purple gaze, and she blinked at him as his eyebrows rose. "I didn't realize you became fond of mermaids. I suppose they are more exotic than humans."

"I brought her here on her request." Riku glanced at Kairi, who stayed silent. "What she wants with you is not my business. Tell me, Joshua, why am I here? What is so important?"

Joshua, the King of the Seelie Court, watched Kairi for a bit longer, his expression unreadable. He then turned his attention back to Riku. "Well, it's a small matter. I've been told by my soothsayer about some of the more interesting humans of the Heartlands."

"I was just there," Riku said, irritated.

"Yes, I know. You met a few of the humans I mean."

Riku stared at Joshua, and Kairi watched with great interest. The Heartlands weren't her favorite place, but she enjoyed the warm waters, and no one seemed to ever notice her. Kairi found herself wondering if Sora was from the Heartlands, but she knew she hadn't left him on the shore of that kingdom.

Riku glared up at the king, his frown making him look aged, though not the age he really was. "I met a lot of people tonight," he said slowly. "Give me some specifics."

"The girl with short black hair, does that ring any bells?"

"Not rea—" Riku stopped himself, and his expression became hard. Joshua smiled, cupping his chin in his hand, and giggling slightly. "She was just a child."

"Compared to you, maybe," Joshua said, sighing dramatically. "Yes, a child. A poor, innocent child, and her blood will burn this entire spit of land until the ocean rises up to swallow it…"

"She's going to die?" Riku asked. "That shouldn't matter to me. Children get murdered all the time."

"Perhaps. You've done a bit of children slaying in your life, haven't you?"

Kairi swayed, examining Riku's face for a reaction, but he simply stared hard at Joshua. "I used to be a very good dog," he said coldly. "The girl, then. Her blood will burn everything? What do you want me to do, drink it?"

"Oh, don't tempt me." Joshua gave a thin smile. "Save her. You like humans, don't you?"

"I like the humans I serve. I cannot speak for the rest of humanity, because they are not all kind."

"The girl is a child, like you said. She means no ill to anyone, but if we let her die, I'm afraid we'll unleash something awful." Joshua's eyes suddenly flashed to Kairi, and he gave her another smile, this one looking almost genuine. "Mermaid, what do you think?"

Kairi was shocked that she'd been called upon, but she was quick about it. She stared at Joshua, a frown gracing her lips, and she said, "If saving one life can save thousands, why argue?"

And at that, Joshua's face seemed to relax, and he laughed again. This time it was not a simper, though it was still a bit girlish, and he smiled down at Riku. "That girl's blood is so cold she can barely feel emotion without feeling a sting, and you, who can feel freely, wish not to save a little girl's life?"

"You don't know me, Joshua, so don't pretend you do." Riku's jaw was set, and Kairi could see it move a little as his teeth grinded against each other. "If it's truly so important that I save the girl, fine. So be it. But I do this because it is my choice, and you have no part in it."

"You don't care for me," Joshua huffed. "I'm not a fool. But you are not dumb, and you know things you'd rather not, and you believe me when I say this girl and her life could make all the difference."

"Tell me where to find her."

"Of course," Joshua said, smirking as he wound his fingers around of his hair, his head tilting. "Though I'd like to hear about the mermaid first. She requested you bring her? Could you not say no? Or were you seduced by the child?"

"I'm not a child," Kairi objected, and Riku shot her a look.

"She saved a human I serve," Riku said, shrugging. "I repay my debts. She wanted to see you, for gods know what reason. That's not my business."

"Sure." Joshua leaned forward, his eyes on Kairi's face. "I'm very curious. What do you want, mermaid? I can't promise you'll have it, you know."

Kairi stared at him, nervousness fluttering in her stomach, and she reached up to grasp the marble floor. "I want to be human, your grace," she said carefully, holding his gaze so he would not sense her slight fear.

Riku looked down at her, his eyes widening, but Kairi was staring at Joshua, hoping that he would understand somehow. He did not seem surprised, but his expression had gone still, and serious, and there were no more smiles.

"Human," Joshua repeated, his eyes narrowing at her as the corner of his mouth twitched. "Now, why would a little mermaid like you want such a thing?"

"I don't belong," Kairi breathed, her shoulders hunching. "Not in the sea, not inside my own body. I can't take it, and I want to be free. You're a faerie king— if you can't make me human, no one can."

"Don't do it," Riku blurted, and Kairi looked up at him. His eyes were wide, and his mouth was agape. "Don't try to make a deal with him, siren."

"I thought this wasn't your business?" Kairi scowled at him, and looked back at the king, who was studying her closely. "Please, your grace, it's just this one thing I ask for. I'll give you anything."

"Anything?" Joshua's eyes seemed to light up at this. "You realize the fragility of this type of transformation. Magic isn't free, and to appease the gods you must prove yourself or destroy yourself. You do understand this?"

"Yes," she said. "Please make me human."

Nothing in her life had ever scared Kairi more than Joshua's smile at that moment.

Naminé hated him. She stole glares at the back of his neck, and found herself plotting ways to make him pay for treating that girl the way he did. The girl had been so oddly kind to Naminé, and she was regretting not responding to her smiles and interest. But something had awoken inside her when she saw Vanitas press the knife to the girl, and now it was all she could do to not let this courage slip through her fingers.

He had her by the arm, and she followed with obedience, though she lagged behind him. His grip was tight on her, and she wanted to scream at him, to run away, but she was not stupid. She'd be beaten if she spoke against him.

"What was the point of that?" she asked instead of shouting at him. "Why were we even there? You did nothing."

"Hush." Vanitas's grip on her tightened. "You are so stupid. I did exactly what I went there to do, and now I know."

"Know what?"

"That's none of your concern, kitten." He tugged on her arm roughly, and Naminé stopped. The last of her bravery was nearly gone, and she needed to be brave for this. She tried not to flinch as he spun to face her, his body going rigid in anger.

"What?" he spat. "I did all you asked, I let the damn girl go. I even let you talk to that idiot, because I thought it would keep you occupied long enough for me to do my business. What do you want now?"

"If you feel that way, you shouldn't have made me come," Naminé murmured.

"I wanted to keep you in my sight, you stupid wench."

"You let me go off by myself…"

"I was watching you very closely."

She shivered, not knowing how to respond to that, and when he yanked her forward, she scrambled to pull him back. "Stop," she said cautiously. He barked a laugh, and shook his head.

"Do you want me to carry you back, kitten? I won't be gentle about it."

"I can walk." Naminé wrinkled her nose at the idea of him carrying her. "I just want one thing."

"Always wanting," he cooed.

"I think it's a human thing," she whispered, eyes like ice. "You wouldn't understand, I'd think."

He was quiet for a time, and there was a soothing satisfaction that went through her, making her smile a little. "What is it you want?"

She watched him, her bravery turning to water suddenly, and she swallowed. She wanted to be brave. She really did, but everything about him made her want to cry, and run, and hide. She almost shook her head and told him not to mind her, but she wanted to know. She straightened her spine and narrowed her eyes. "Take your mask off," she said, her voice staying steady to her great surprise.

"What?" He sounded shocked, and that brought back some of her courage. She smiled a little.

"Take it off," she said, jerking her head at him. "I want to see your face."

"And why would I do that?" Irritated, he yanked her hard, and she fell to her knees. The light white silk pooled around her, milky against the cobblestone.

"I just want to see it," she murmured, finding it in herself to look up at his mask. "If I'm staying with a madman, I'd like to see what he looks like!"

"If you were a smart girl, you'd turn the blind eye and realize there's a reason I wear this mask." Naminé thought she heard a smile in his voice.

"You've established already that you don't believe me to be a smart girl." She scowled, and her eyes widened when he bent down to his knee before her, darkness keeping her reflection from gleaming on the mask. "Will you let me see?"

"I'm not on me knees to comfort you," he laughed, and she could have smiled, but then she remembered how much she hated him. "I'm doing this only out of curiosity."

"Then we are on the same note," she countered, relishing in her bravery. She held her breath as Vanitas let go of her arm and rested his hands on his mask. With a twist and a click, it was off, and Naminé could only blink at him.

He looked like a normal boy. Ordinary, maybe, his face long and his lips thin, but perhaps not so ordinary because of his eyes. She sat there, staring in wonder, as his golden gaze glowed against the night. That was all that seemed to be strange about his appearance, and she wished she had a bit more light, to see if there was anything truly grotesque about him.

"Well?" he asked, his face screwing up in impatience.

"You just look like a boy," she said confusedly, lifting her hand to his face, and her fingers landing against the flesh of his cheek. Her eyes widened as the skin seemed to melt away for a second, a dark mist flowing beneath the tips of her fingers before he slapped her hand away hard enough to make her shout.

He slipped the mask back on, but before he did Naminé saw him frowning. He pulled her roughly to her feet and pushed her forward, and she went without complaint.

"Perhaps you need to open your eyes," he said quietly when they got onto the dock.

She did not understand until she went to sleep.

Anyone want to review this chapter? =[