Chapter 45 Heart Connections
"Every person we ever see or come into contact with in our lifetime leaves a connection between us and them," Ansem says to Ven who is still seated in front of the large desk in Ansem's offive with Sora. Master Eraqus and Riku stand behind them listening as well. "These connections are usually only wisps of threads, but they will hold nonetheless. However, there are always a few who our connections with are as binding as the toughest rope. Ventus, Vanitas was originally part of your heart. In some ways you are nearly the same person. Your connection runs deeper than any other you will ever have. Even it was not for the X-blade, your destinies would forever be intertwined because your hearts' connection would always bring the two of you back together."
Ansem turns from a shocked Ven to look at Sora. "Sora, my child, you touched Ventus' heart when it was broken and left a piece of your light with him so he could heal. Through that act, you not only touched Ventus' heart, but you touched Vanitas' as well. This created a connection nearly as deep as the one between Ventus and Vanitas. The simplest way to explain it is that all three of you have been connected in such a way that even I cannot fathom the full implications."
"What can you tell us about it?" Ven asks quietly, looking into the wise man's eyes.
"I can tell you some about your and Vanitas' connection," Ansem replies to Ven. "However, I can say little on Sora's connection to the two of you since that connection was never meant to exist in the depth it now is."
Ansem pauses to collect his thoughts. "The personality shift you have experienced is understandable, I imagine Vanitas has gone through the same. Light and dark can balance each other out when put together, but separated their true nature is exposed. Without Vanitas is your heart, anger and rage are no longer strong emotions for you. Happiness, associated with light, is now your primary emotion. For Vanitas, he most likely feels anger and rage always. He no longer has your light to sooth the dark emotions in him so expect him to be crueler than you remember."
"Ventus," Ansem says leaning forward slightly. "Vanitas may have saved you in the past, but do not count on him doing it again. Before, he was part of you and felt your pain. By helping you he was helping himself. Now that you are separated he can hurt you or let others hurt you without feeling the pain himself. Along with that, he has become pure darkness. You cannot trust as he is not the same as the voice you knew in your head."
"With all do respect, I don't believe you," Ven says to everyone's surprise. "He may be pure darkness and he may be angry, but won't let anyone hurt me. He may not be the same as he once was, but I know if it really comes down to it, he'd do anything to save my life."
"Ventus, you must heed Ansem's warning," Master Eraqus says putting a hand on Ven's shoulder.
Ven turns to him and stubbornly shakes his head. "You're all just guessing. Believe what you want, but you haven't met Vanitas. I knew him before and I'd like to think he hasn't changed." Ven pauses for a moment. "And even if you're right and he has, there is still something connecting us. I can't explain it, but I can't imagine hurting him and I believe he feels the same about me."
Any further argument is interrupted by the office door opening and Terra walking in with Braig behind him. Ven jumps to his feet seeing the small blue creature struggling in Braig's grasp. He can't take his eyes off it and after a moment its bright red eyes settle on him as well.
"What is that?" Ansem says also rising from his chair. He quickly crosses the room and inspects the creature with an air of excitement. "I've never seen such a creature before. Eraqus? Have you?"
"I have not," Master Eraqus says also staring curiously at the strange creature. "A new kind of heartless possibly?"
"It's not a heartless."
Master Eraqus and Ansem both turn to see Ven grim faced. "How do you know that, Ventus?" Master Eraqus asks.
Instead of answering Ven moves to stand next to Braig. He reaches out a hand hesitantly, keeping his eyes on the beady red ones staring back at him.
"Careful Ven," Terra warns. "It's quick."
Ven makes no acknowledgement that he heard him. He stretches out his arm and gently touches the top of the creature. It doesn't make any move to attack him so he moves his hand slightly. Everyone but Ven is shocked when it makes a sound almost like a purr at his touch. Ven continues to pet the creature, but looks to Master Eraqus.
"It's connected to Vanitas," he says. "I can feel it. It feels just like he used to when he was annoyed with me."
"So you're saying this creature has Vanitas' emotions?" Terra asks in disbelief. "That's not possible."
"I'm not wrong," Ven replies in an even voice. "Why else would it not attack me?"
Everyone is stumped for a moment and it is Ansem who is the first to speak. "Ventus, are there any other emotions you can feel?"
Ven shakes his head no and Ansem moves to pet the creature much like Ven. The change in demeanor is nearly instantaneous. It hisses and tries to lunge at Ansem it eyes burning. The change is so fast, Braig is barely able to keep his grip on the struggling creature.
"It would appear that Ventus is correct," Ansem says taking a step back. "This is a creature born of negative emotion. Vanitas' negative emotions to be exact."
"He created them?" Terra asks.
"Indeed," Ansem replies. "Whether intentionally or unintentionally this creature's connection to Vanitas is unmistakable. I have never seen such things. It would appear that Vanitas is unversed in his ability to control his emotions and these creatures, these negative emotions are the result."
"Unversed is a good name for them," Braig pipes in. "The little bastards couldn't put up a very good fight."
"As good a name as any," Ansem says with a shrug. "What we call them is unimportant. It needs to be studied in greater detail. Braig, take it to the lab." A secret door suddenly opens in the wall and Braig steps towards it.
"Wait!" Ven shouts and Braig pauses to look at him. "What...what are you going to do to it?"
"I'll discover any secrets it is able to tell us about Vanitas," Ansem replies dismissively.
"But-"
"Hush now Ventus," Master Eraqus says sternly. "What Ansem can find may be of use to us. Come now," he gestures for his apprentices to follow him. "We have intruded on Ansem's hospitality long enough. It is time to return home. Terra, where is Aqua?"
"Well," Terra says awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. "There was this young girl…"
…
"Where are her parents?" Master Eraqus asks as he takes the cup of tea from Meredith, Kairi's grandmother.
"They died when she was just a baby," Meredith replies sadly as she sits in the chair at the kitchen table across from him. She glances into the main room where Kairi and Aqua are sitting together on the floor. Aqua is showing Kairi how to weave the flowers she had picked into a crown. "This world was more dangerous back then. The heartless killed them and several others at the marketplace one day."
Meredith lowers her head and Master Eraqus watches her sadly. "I am her only family," Meredith says lifting her head once more. Despite her saddened voice, he can see the fierce look of determination in her eyes. "And she is all I have left as well. But I always knew one day she would leave me. I've always known that she's special."
Kairi laughs as Aqua places the completed crown on her red hair. She twirls around with huge smile.
"That she is," Master Eraqus agrees feeling the light coming off the young girl.
"Take her to your school," Meredith says in a choked voice. "It is what's best for her. Just- just promise me you'll take good care of her."
Master Eraqus gives her a small smile. "I will."
…
"What's taking so long?" Ven asks for the third time and Terra rolls his eyes.
"I don't know Ven," Terra says in a hard voice. "We just have to wait."
Ven sighs at this answer lays down in the grass. He and Terra are sitting in the main square of Radiant Garden waiting for Master Eraqus to return with Aqua and the new girl. Sora and Riku had found a small frog hiding in a flower bed and are passing time by chasing the poor creature around the empty square.
Just like in Traverse Town, the people of Radiant Garden kept mostly indoors, afraid of the heartless and now of the unversed as well. However, two boys suddenly turn a corner and enter the square in a hurry. The two are hard to miss. One has very blue hair and the other's is flaming red. The boy with the blue hair barely glances at the keyblade wielders as they pass, but the second boy looks right at them.
"Who are you?" The red head stops and asks curiously.
"Lea," the boy with blue hair says in an exasperated voice. "We don't have time for this."
"Lighten up Isa," Lea replies. "This will only take a sec. Can't you see that their new around here?"
Terra and Ven get to their feet as Lea walks over with a cheery grin. "Hey there, name's Lea. Got it memorized?"
"Terra," Terra says indicating himself. "And this is Ven."
Lea nods, his hair bouncing up and down. "And who are the rugrats?" He asks gesturing to Sora and Riku.
"I'm not a rugrat!" Riku shouts angrily as he and Sora run over.
"Yeah! Me neither!" Sora shouts as well. "And I'm gonna be five in two weeks." To emphasize his point, Sora holds up five fingers.
"Well I'm eight!" Lea replies leaning over Sora to show how much taller he is. Sora's comeback is to stick his tongue out and seeing him Lea does the same.
Terra sighs. "Was there something you two wanted?" He asks Lea and Isa.
"No," Isa says in a bored voice. "Lea just likes sticking his nose where it doesn't belong."
"Ha! You're one to talk," Lea says turning away from Sora to face his friend. "You love going where we don't belong. That's why you want to go to the castle so badly isn't-" Lea is suddenly cut off by Isa's hand clamping down over his loud mouth.
"We really should be going," Isa says firmly all but dragging Lea away with him.
"I'll see ya when I see ya!" Lea calls out to them after finally removing Isa's hand. He gives them a cocky smile just before Isa pulls him around a corner and out of sight.
"Hmph, what a weird kid," Ven says as he and Terra sit back down in the grass.
Terra punches him lightly in the shoulder. "You're one to talk."
"Hey! At least I'm weird because I'm the X-blade wielder. He's just annoying."
"I dunno," Terra says lying back in the grass. "You can be pretty annoying too."
Ven pouts, but before he can reply they hear Sora shout, "Master Eraqus! Over here!"
They look up to see Sora and Riku waving frantically to their teacher as he enters the square from the far side. Behind him is Aqua holding the hand of the red headed girl who now has a crown of flowers in her hair. Ven and Terra get to their feet as the others reach them.
"Terra, Ventus, Riku, and Sora, this is Kairi," Master Eraqus says to introduce everyone and Kairi smiles shyly at them all. "Kairi is going to come join us at MEKA. Kairi's five so she is about the same age as you, Sora and Riku."
Riku nods and says hello, but the usually loud Sora is at a loss for words. He simply stares with his mouth slightly open at Kairi. Ven covers his own mouth with his hand to hide a chuckle.
Terra nudges him and whispers in his ear. "Don't laugh. You were the same way when you first met Zack."
"Was not!" Ven exclaims louder than he meant to. The others look at him curiously having not heard Terra's comment. Ven blushes, the tips of his ears turning red. "Was not!" He hisses much quieter at Terra who gives him a knowing smile before turning away.
"I'm Sora!" The young boy shouts suddenly having finally found his voice again. "Uh, it's nice to meet you Kairi."
"It's nice to meet you too," Kairi replies with a giggle.
Master Eraqus smiles lovingly down at his young apprentices. Kairi would be a perfect addition to his school. "Kairi, if you're ready, we can leave."
Kairi's face drops into a small frown as she looks around one last time at the town she'd always called home. This morning she never would have dreamed of leaving, but now with her new friends she is excited to set out. Now smiling, she looks up at Master Eraqus, "I'm ready," she says in a determined voice.
Master Eraqus summons a light corridor back to MEKA and his older three apprentices take the younger three's hands and lead them into the portal. Terra goes first with Riku, Aqua follows with Kairi, and Ven is pulled through by an eager Sora. Master Eraqus follows his apprentices with a small smile and as he walks through, the light corridor in Radiant Garden vanishes.
…
"Do not try that again boys or we might not be so lenient," Dilan thunders as he and Braig each toss one of the mischief makers out the front door of the castle. The two boys land on the ground and quickly get to their feet. The red headed one flashes the two guards a cocky smile before his more serious blue haired friend drags him away from the castle door.
"Damn kids," Braig mutters under his breath. He'd been in a bad mood ever since the keyblade wielders had left. He'd tried to convince Ansem to tell him what they had discussed, but the old man had stubbornly refused and sent Braig back to guard duty.
"Maybe we should follow them and make sure they leave," Dilan suggests. "You know, make sure they don't double back and try to sneak in again."
"I doubt that's necessar-" Braig starts to say, but cuts himself off causing Dilan to look at him curiously. "Actually, that's a great idea," Braig says as he begins to walk away. "I'll follow the kiddies. Hold the fort now."
Before Dilan could argue or question him, Braig sets off down the steps from the castle. He had seen the boys heading towards the town square and that is probably where Dilan expects him to go. "As if!" Braig says to himself as he walks towards the secluded gardens. "Like I'd waste my time following those troublemakers."
Alone in the gardens, Braig holds up a hand and concentrates hard. A dark corridor appears, and with a grin he steps through. "Let's see what the old coot's been up to."
Okie Dokie! I just want to point out one thing.
As Lea said he is eight making Isa also about the same age even though it isn't specifically stated. I know that in the game they are supposed to be Ven's age (15) but I'm going to let you all in on a little secret. There's gonna be AkuRoku in the sequel :) I don't want Axel to be a pedophile so by making him and Sora only three years apart (remember Sora is almost five) so Roxas and Axel will only be three years apart as well.
Also, I said Kairi is already five making Sora the youngest of the three because I like him as the baby of their dysfunctional family.
Everyone hates Vanitas. Well, except for Ven. He doesn't think Vani is all that bad. Is he right? Is he wrong? Maybe we'll find out next chapter and maybe we won't. I'm not entirely sure myself.
Mexi: I'm sorry you had a fever and school. I only have three more days of freedom :(
Zephyr26: Yeah in this story Kairi is going to be like Sora and Riku have been where they don't do any fighting because they are little kids, but in the sequel she'll fight right along side the boys.
ShinyGlaceon: I realize now that I never actually showed Kairi summoning her keyblade but yeah it is going to be the same one Kairi has in KHII (I looked it up it's called Destiny's Embrace). It's not my favorite because of all the flowers and girly stuff, but I think it is appropriate with her having given Aqua flowers just before receiving the keyblade. Ven and Zack will fight together again, but not for awhile.
Garrett4976: And that's how Sora met Kairi. It was love at first sight, at least for Sora. XD