Chapter 56 Zack

As soon as Ven stumbles out of the light corridor, he immediately runs into Leon who looks at him surprised. He takes in Ven's expression and the way Sora is clinging to him before asking, "Ven, are you alright?"

Before Ven can answer, Aqua appears behind him with Riku and Kairi and the light corridor disappears. Leon takes another look at them as Aqua blinks back tears and says in a low voice, "Let's head over to the bar."

Ven glances around seeing they are in the 2nd District before wordlessly following the other two. Sora shifts in his arms so he can look at Ven and asks, "Are Terra and Master Eraqus alright?"

A lump in his throat keeps Ven from answering and Aqua let's out half a sob, but quickly cuts off the sound. Leon glances at the both of them, his eyes full of worry, and quickens his pace. They reach the doors to the 1st District when Yuffie comes up behind them saying, "Leon? Where are you going? We're still on duty."

Ven and Aqua turn to her and she gasps seeing their distraught faces. "What happened?" She asks as they go through the big double doors and enter the 1st District.

Aqua looks at Riku and Kairi still in her arms and Sora in Ven's. "I'll explain at the bar," she says quietly and Yuffie's eyes widen in fear. A few moments later they reach the bar and head inside. Aerith is sitting at a table chatting with Cid with Marlene in her lap. Zack and Cloud are cleaning glasses behind the bar while Tifa sweeps. All look up when the keyblade wielders, Leon, and Yuffie walk in, seeing in their faces that something is wrong.

"What happened?" Tifa says hurrying over and offering chairs to Ven and Aqua. Aqua puts Riku and Kairi, who has stopped crying, down and sits.

"The grown ups have to talk, alright?" She says to them trying to smile, but her eyes are watery.

"Marlene, why don't you take them outside and play," Aerith says to her daughter. "Just stay in the 1st District."

"Okay," Marlene says and skips over to the other kids. Ven puts Sora down and the four run out.

Ven takes a seat beside Aqua and looks up as he feels a hand on his shoulder. Zack crouches down beside him, watching him worriedly. Ven grabs Zack's hand and Zack squeezes it, trying to comfort him.

Aqua looks at all their friends and says in a broken voice, "Xehanort came for Ven."

At her words, Ven's vision clouds over with unshed tears and he turns his head away from Zack to stare instead at the floor.

"We all fought him, but Master Eraqus told me to take Ven and the kids and run," Aqua continues and Ven's grip on Zack's hand tightens. "I - I did what he said and took them here. Terra and Master Eraqus...stayed behind to...to give us time to escape." Aqua lets a sob out before covering her mouth and Ven jumps to his feet, pulling his hand from Zack's.

He races for the door and runs out despite Aqua calling after him. She starts to get up, but Zack says quickly, "I'll get him Aqua."

Aqua nods and leans back in her chair. Yuffie comes to her side and pulls her into a hug. Aqua hugs back and her body shakes with the strength of the sobs she is holding back. "It's okay to cry," Yuffie whispers to her and her words break the dam. All Aqua's fear, all her despair, floods out and for a minute she cries into Yuffie's shoulder. As quickly as they had come, her tears dry up and she pulls back from Yuffie, rubbing her eyes.

"You're bleeding Aqua," Aeirth says walking to her concerned.

"What?" Aqua says reaching up to her head. When she pulls her hand away there is blood on it. "Oh...yeah...I guess I am."

Aerith touches her forehead gently and Aqua feels the curing magic heal her. She takes a deep breath and lets it out in a long sigh. "What are you going to do now?" Tifa asks worriedly.

Aqua thinks for a moment. "I have to keep Ven safe. If Terra and Master Eraqus can't stop Xehanort...Ven and I are going to have to run. We can't stay here. He'll find us eventually."

"Do you have some place you can go?" Leon asks.

Aqua nods slowly. "I know of many world with places to hide. We'll keep moving." She sighs again and turns to Cloud and Tifa. "I'm sorry to have to ask but can Sora, Riku, and Kairi stay with you? I have to keep Ven safe and we can't take them with us." She hangs her head, but looks back up as Tifa puts a hand on her shoulder.

"Of course they can," she says and Cloud nods behind her.

"Thank you," Aqua says.

"Only temporarily though," Cloud says. "Because you will be coming back. You're tough. You and your friends will survive this."

Aqua tries to smile at his words, but her lips barely twitch. "Thank you."

…

"Ven?" Zack calls softly as he walks down the alley next to Cid's shop where he had seen Ven go. He doesn't see Ven, but hears a small sob from behind one of the crates against the wall of the alley. Hurrying over he finds Ven curled up with his hands over his face. "Ven…" Zack says sadly sitting beside him. He puts his arm around Ven, pulling him close and Ven hugs him, burying his face in Zack's shoulder.

"It's all my fault," Ven says in a shaking voice. "They shouldn't have had...They shouldn't have done…"

"Shh, Ven," Zack says rubbing his back. "It's not your fault."

"It should have been me!" Ven says pulling out of Zack's hold and jumping to his feet. "Xehanort wanted me. Not them. If I had gone with him-"

"Don't say that Ven!" Zack says also getting to his feet. "They were trying to protect you."

"And now they might be dead because they tried to protect me!" Ven shouts and tears start to fall again. Zack tries to hug him, but Ven pulls away saying, "I was right. I shouldn't get close to people. Tay, Terra, Master Eraqus, they only end up getting hurt because of me."

Zack grabs his hand and keeps his grip even as Ven tries to pull away again. "Listen to me Ven," Zack says. "None of it is your fault. You didn't hurt any of them. You didn't do this."

"But I-"

"You can't blame yourself," Zack says pulling Ven close and putting his forehead on Ven's. "And you don't know they're gone for sure."

"Oh they're gone, believe me."

Ven and Zack turn to look at the dead end of the alley where Vanitas is standing with a dark corridor fading behind him. "You took him back, Ven?" Vanitas says surprise in his voice. "After everything he did and after everything you said?"

"What are you doing here Vanitas?" Ven asks ignoring his questions.

"I'm here because your time's up," Vanitas says stepping closer to them. "I've let you have your fun with your little friends and Zack here, but now you're coming with me."

"I'm not forming the X-blade," Ven says. "I won't do it."

"You have to do it," Vanitas growls. "You said you wanted to be whole again. This how we do it."

"No," Ven says shaking his head. "It wouldn't be right."

"Don't you get it, idiot?" Vanitas shouts slamming his fist into the alley wall. Zack takes a step towards him, but Ven grabs his hand to stop him. "I don't give a rat's ass what's right. I need to form the X-blade."

"You don't need to," Ven says in a quiet voice. "That's just what Xehanort-"

"This doesn't have anything to do with him anymore!" Vanitas shouts. "Look at this." Vanitas reaches up and grabs the body suit he is wearing just over his heart. With a yank he rips the material open exposing part of his chest. Ven gasps. On his chest are dark sores swirling with darkness. "My own darkness is destroying me," Vanitas says quietly. He turns his masked head away for a moment before looking back at Ven. He yells, "Your light is the only thing that can save me! We need to become one again, we need to form the X-blade."

"Vanitas," Ven says sadly. He tries to walk towards his dark half, but Zack pulls him back.

"Are you crazy Ven?" Zack hisses. "Don't listen to him."

"But-"

"Come here Ven," Vanitas demands holding out his hand.

"Not gonna happen," Zack says pushing Ven roughly behind him.

"Oh so now he's yours to protect?" Vanitas says with a sneer. "You know, I remember a time when you couldn't stand to be seen with him."

"Shut it."

"It broke his heart you know," Vanitas continues and Ven joins Zack in glaring at Vanitas. "Tore him to pieces inside to see that you cared so little about him. His anger at you was the last bit of darkness Xehanort needed to drag out the darkness inside of him and form me. And oh boy did it hurt him. You should have heard him scream. You remember, don't you Ven? Why don't you tell Zack here just how much it hurts to have half your heart ripped away?"

"I said shut it!" Zack whips out his sword and points it at Vanitas' head.

Vanitas smirks. "Put that away before you hurt yourself. I'm just here for Ven."

"Too bad. You're not touching him without going through me first."

"Hmph." Vanitas summons his own keyblade. "Well if you insist."

"Zack, no!" Ven says, but Vanitas points at him and a gust of wind sends him flying out of the alley. He lands on his back, but quickly scrambles to his feet and runs back towards Zack and Vantias. He only takes a few steps before he runs into a barrier blocking the whole alley. With his hands and nose pressed flat against the invisible wall, Ven stares helplessly as Vanitas summons his keyblade and beckons Zack forward with a taunting gesture.

Zack glances back, meeting Ven's gaze briefly, before turning to face Vanitas once more as the latter charges forward, letting his keyblade drag along the ground as he goes, creating sparks. Zack swings his sword to meet Vanitas' first attack and knocks the dark boy back from the impact. Vanitas flips in the air and comes back down at Zack. Zack jumps back and Vanitas' keyblade strikes the ground where he had been standing moments before.

As Vanitas straightens back up, Zack charges and stabs at him. Vanitas deflects the stab with a flick of his wrist, but Zack recovers and tries to strike again. Again Vanitas blocks and Zack staggers back. Vanitas counterattacks with a lightning fast swing that Zack just barely avoids by ducking under the keyblade.

Both jump back and glare at each other a moment before Vanitas raises his keyblade to point at Zack. "Firaga," he says and a ball fire laced with darkness bursts out of his keyblade heading for Zack who raises his sword in a block. The magic hits his sword and is deflected but the strength of the force behind the magic sends him flying back and he crashes into the barrier before falling in a heap on the ground.

"Zack!" Ven says, crouching on the other side of the invisible wall and scratching at it in desperation.

Zack pushes himself half up and puts his hand to Ven's with the thin barrier the only thing separating them. "Run," he says in an urgent voice. "I'll hold him off as long as I can."

"No!" Ven says, shaking his head stubbornly. "I'm not leaving you."

"Ven please," Zack says desperately, but before they can argue further, a beam of dark lightning forms above Zack and sends its electricity through his body.

"Stop it Vanitas!" Ven cries as he watches Zack writhe in pain.

"I'll stop if you agree to come with me," Vanitas says and lets the magic fade so Zack slumps to the ground.

Ven looks from Zack's shaking form to Vanitas' hand, outstretched to him. "I-"

"He's not going anywhere with you!" Zack yells as he pushes himself back to his feet, using the wall for support. He finds new strength in his hatred for Vanitas and charges forward again.

"Don't Zack he's going to-" Ven starts to shout, but he can't get the last words out. He stands frozen in horror as he watches Vanitas and Zack go back to exchanging blows. He turns slightly when he catches movement out of the corner of his eye. Sora, Riku, Kairi, and Marlene must have heard the shouts and sounds of fighting and came to see what was going on. Their eyes widen as they see the fight taking place. Ven runs to them and falls to one knee beside Riku. Putting a hand on the younger boy's shoulder he says urgently, "Go get Aqua." Riku stares back at him with huge eyes. "Now!" With a quick nod, Riku and the other kids take off running for the 7th Heaven and Ven turns back to the fight.

Now Zack seems to be gaining the upper hand as he forces Vanitas back step by step toward the dead end of the alley. Vanitas jumps back a fires another fire and darkness ball at Zack, but Zack is ready this time and holds his ground when the ball smashes into his sword. It bounces back and heads for its creator. Vanitas is too slow to block and his own attack knocks him off his feet.

"That's it," he snarls, getting back up. "Enough playing around."

Vanitas runs forward and swings his sword is a deadly arc at Zack's head. Zack raises his sword to block him, but the two blades never meet as Vanitas freezes mid attack. "What?" Zack says, confused. He starts to lower his sword when he hears Ven shout,

"Behind you!"

Zack whirls around as Vanitas, who had teleported behind him, slashes at him in a horizontal strike from shoulder to hip. Unable to react fast enough to block him, Zack feels his chest explode in pain. His sword falls from his hand as he no longer had the strength to hold it any longer. As he begins to fall to the ground, Vanitas whips his keyblade across his chest twice more, leaving two more cuts as deep as the first.

"Zack!" Ven screams and pounds on the barrier desperately as Zack falls on his back. "Zack! No!"

Vanitas walks over and kicks Zack's fallen sword away. He crouches down and grabs Zack by the front of his shirt. Pulling him up, Vanitas positions his keyblade under Zack's neck. Zack struggles slightly, but he's too weak to pull himself out of Vanitas' grip.

"Stop Vanitas!" Ven cries tears starting to roll down his cheeks. "Don't hurt him. I'll do whatever you want. Just leave him alone!"

Vanitas looks at Ven and pulls his keyblade away from Zack's neck. "I'm so happy I was able to convince you," Vanitas says mockingly. He makes his keyblade vanish and releases Zack who falls back to the ground with a small grunt of pain. Vanitas waves his hand in Ven's direction and the barrier disappears.

As soon as it's gone, Ven runs to Zack and falls on the ground beside him. Zack's chest is shredded and his blood is soaking the paving stones under him "Zack. Zack!" Ven cries cupping Zack's head between his hands. "Open your eyes, please…"

Zack groans and opens his eyes half way. "Ven…" He raises his hand to Ven's and grasps it. "Don't...let him take...you."

"I'm sorry Zack, I'm so sorry," Ven whispers and another tear slips down his cheek.

Zack blinks and a tear falls from his eye as well. "Not...your fault...I wanted...to protect you."

Ven draws a hand back and reaches into his pocket. He pulls out the pin Zack had bought for him in Shibuya. With shaking fingers, he takes Zack hand, trying to ignore the blood on it, and presses the pin into his palm. "To remember me by," he whispers folding Zack's fingers over the small disk. He leans down and brushes his lips against Zack's for a brief moment. He pulls his hand from Zack's and lays it on his bleeding chest. "Curaga."

The green light envelops Zack, but there is a lot of damage and the magic is barely doing anything. "Curaga. Curaga," Ven repeats forcefully putting all his magic into healing Zack.

Gloved hands suddenly grab him from behind and pull him away from Zack. "No! Zack! Curaga!" Ven shouts trying to fight off Vanitas, but he drags Ven to his feet and pulls him down the alley. "No! Curaga!" Ven shouts keeping his eyes on Zack who is trying to get up, reaching out for Ven. Vanitas keeps a firm grip on Ven with one hand and summons a dark corridor with the other.

"Let's go Ven," Vanitas says and pulls Ven towards the corridor.

Ven struggles and digs his heels into the ground. He can't break free. Vanitas is stronger than him. "Zack!" Ven yells feeling the coldness of the dark corridor on his back. "I love you, Zack!"

"Ven!"

Aqua comes charging into the alley with Yuffie, Leon, Cloud, Tifa, and Merlin behind her. Vanitas growls in anger and drags Ven backward into the darkness. The corridor starts to close, but not before Aqua dives forward and makes it in.

Zack watches the dark corridor vanish behind her from the ground. Another tear drips from his eye. "I love you too, Ven."

He lets his head fall back onto the ground and closes his eyes, barely noticing the voices shouting around him and the hands shaking him.

"Zack! Oh God!"

"Stay with us Zack. Dammit! Open your eyes!"

"Quick! Get Aerith!"

But Zack only hears one voice. One voice echoing out of the abyss of his unconsciousness as he falls in.

I love you, Zack.

All I can say is...

THE FEELS!