A/N: I love how I get to make them fluffy in this chapter. But alas something always goes wrong. Disclaimer: I don't own kingdom hearts or all the boys would be getting down

I couldn't breathe. Vanitas was kissing me. I felt the warmth of his lips pressed against mine, the way they were moving with my own. I didn't realize that I was kissing him back; I was unconsciously doing so. My eyes, previously wide with surprise, closed and I let myself kiss him. It wasn't a rough or sloppy kiss but it was rather gentle and hesitant. I breathed through my nose and inhaled Vanitas's scent. To me, he smelled like hickory smoke and the nighttime wind. God, it was such an intoxicating smell.

I was leaning closer, to deepen the kiss when there was a tremendous banging on his door. Vanitas pulled away and opened the door. His parents stood there, their faces masks of horrifyingly deadly anger. "Your mother and I are leaving. There is food in the kitchen and your godforsaken sister is coming to take care of you," his father hissed through his teeth. I had sat up and now nearly fell back down. Vanitas sighed and nodded sharply. "Yes, sir," he said. His parents left without another word, their voices drifting away. I stared at Vanitas as he simply stood in his doorway, his hand clenching the knuckles were turning white. "Vanitas?" I asked timidly.

He flinched and slammed the door hard enough to make me jump. Dry heaving sobs erupted from him and his head was lowered. I got up and hesitantly touched his back. He whirled around and hugged me tightly. I was taken aback by the sudden embrace and took a step back to steady myself. Unfortunately, I forgot about my extreme case of clumsiness. As my foot tangled up with the other, I grasped Vanitas back. We fell with a soft thud back onto his bed.

I stroked his back as he cried into my neck. I bit my lip hard to stop myself from crying. I tasted blood and mentally cursed myself for not remembering that I'd split my lip earlier. Poor Vanitas. His hands were in my hair and his scent was all around me. 'This is nice. He wants me to hold him,' I thought. He suddenly tensed and shoved himself away. I stared at the ceiling, my heart pounding.

"I-I'm so sorry. I dunno what came over me," Vanitas muttered. I didn't respond much to his confusion. He frowned and his eyebrows furrowed. "Your lip is bleeding again," he said, moving to leave. I sat up and took his shirt in my fingers. He paused and turned his head toward me. "Don't leave. I'm fine really. It doesn't bother me," I said softly. He caught my double meaning and gulped. "Are you sure?" he whispered. My eyes widened at the sudden vulnerability in his voice. I nodded hesitantly and hugged his back, my arms wrapped around his chest. He stiffened rigidly and I went to pull away.

Vanitas turned abruptly and kissed me, hard. I gasped, taken off guard. His tongue slipped timidly into my mouth and curled against my inner cheek. My eyes widened and I couldn't keep up with him. My pocket vibrated and my ringtone burst out. I reluctantly pulled away and pulled my phone from my jeans. I blanched pale as Dad's name blinked on the screen. I gulped and clicked the talk button.

"Hello?" I asked timidly. I could feel the heartbeats pounding painfully in my chest. "You've got twelve minutes to get your cat or I'm going to kill him," Cloud said in a voice that shook my inner core. I felt sweat break out on my brow; I had forgotten about my cat, Neku. "Yes, Dad," I choked. Hanging up, I looked up at Vanitas, who was standing silently. "I-I have to get my cat or my dad will kill him," I said. Vanitas sighed and reached up to brush my hair out of my eyes. "You'd better hurry up then," he said quietly.

I blushed as he simply smirked and tapped my lip with his index finger. "Clean your lip up too, Ven," he teased. My legs felt like they were about to give out; he'd called me Ven. Without warning, a huge goofy grin spread across my face and stayed there until I left his house. I can't seem to get into character around him but maybe just maybe I won't have to. I touched my lips and could remember the tingly feeling that occurred when he kissed me.

'I'm not gay though,' I thought. My eyebrows furrowed and my mouth turned down into a frown. I was contemplating if I were lying to myself when I arrived at my house once more. I gulped then rushed through the door. I automatically called my cat. "Neku! Here kitty, kitty, kitty!" I said. Before I could take another step, I felt something slam into the back of my head. I fell to the floor, my head violently pounding and my vision darkening. Through blurry eyes, I could faintly make out my father's figure, standing over he with a frying pan. I groaned in pain and shakily tried to stand. I felt a sharp kick pound into my rib, knocking me to the floor again.

Hot breath hit the side of my neck as Dad leaned over me. "How dare you come home late then leave with some boy? Do you have any means of respect for me?" he snarled in my ear. I cried out as his fingers gripped my hair. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" I shouted, racked with pain as he began to beat the crap out of me. Dad blinked, taken aback by my apologizing. I slumped to the floor, my head violently pounding painfully and my body throbbing in agony.

Dad stood, shaking. I weakly looked up at him. His eyes were watching me as though I were a crouched lion. "What have I done?" he whispered before running out of the room. I could barely register my shock for the pain was too overpowering. 'I have to get back to Vanitas,' I realized after a moment. I forced myself onto my hands and knees. My eyes stung with tears but I wiped them away angrily. There was no time for crying. A meow came from the living room then an orange ball of fluff bowled into me.

"Neku," I strained, standing with the cat in my arms. His spiky fur brushed against my chin and he looked up at me sadly. I kissed his nose then stumbled forward. I was limping and my breath was heaving in my chest. Pain bolted through my being like lightening. Every step hurt but I continued walking. My lip still bled and was joined by my nose. My chest felt as though it were on fire but I didn't stop. Neku purred and nuzzled my neck gently.

"S-Shit," I cursed softly as my nose continued to bleed. My blood seeped into my shirt. I had taken a single step onto Vanitas's porch when he threw the door open. His golden gaze stared in horror as he took in my beaten state. "Ooh Ventus," he breathed coming forward tentatively. I swayed and Neku jumped lightly from my arms, running into the house. I saw the floor coming towards me then a pair of arms wrapped around me. I was lifted gently and was held against a warm body as I was carried into the house.

Vanitas sighed when he sat me down as gently as he could on the bathroom floor. "Ven, what happened?" he asked. I faintly told him what Dad had done. Rage, burning and dark, gleamed in Vanitas's eyes. I gulped painfully and took in a shaky breath. Rifling through his medicine cabinet, Vanitas took out a first aid kit. I watched him curiously. Wetting a washcloth with water and peroxide, Vanitas kneeled in front of me. As he cleaned and patched my visible wounds, I watched him intently. 'I don't even know you yet you've kissed me and are taking care of me. I don't understand,' I thought. I opened my mouth to ask then shut it and frowned.

I was about to speak and thank him when the doorbell rang downstairs. Vanitas paused, his hand posed over my lip with a cottonball in his fingers. A look of annoyance spread over his face as persistent knocking came from downstairs. "Son of a...," he growled before sighing. Vanitas looked down at me apologetically then stood. "I'll be right back," he promised before stomping from the room in anger. I felt my vision darkening then heard Vanitas open the door downstairs. A female voice drifted to my ears before I passed out, my head slumping to the side.

A/N: Happy holidays everyone! :3 I'm sorry for the long wait but I hope it was worth it. Thanks for reviewing too. Ciao!~kingdom hearts