Happy Halloween!

This chapter won't celebrate Halloween, but it will celebrate a birthday, so it's still a happy thing! Enjoy! (also it sets up a major thing for the arc to come so it's a good thing!)

(and now the Q&A)

Q : What happened with Master Xehanort after he failed (*sniggers*) to possess Terra?
A : This is a shortened version of the answer I gave through MP because it was really long. So long story short :
Terra decided to go back to Eraqus to learn how to dominate the Darkness instead of following Xehanort - Vanitas releases Unversed all over the place to bring darkness to the world (on X's orders) - Eraq opened the Lanes Between so that Terra & Aqua can suppress the Unversed - Since Eraq knew all along about Ven & the X-Blade, he asks X about it, and X clearly states that he's planning to forge it one day once there are enough Darkness all over the place - Good guy Eraq decides to protect Ven [and not to kill him *stares at canon universe*] and to train him so that he can defend himself - Ven also learnt about the X-Blade, and since Eraq isn't trying to kill him by the same occasion he takes it fairly well - Now both Masters are sending their 'students' to save/destroy the worlds - when they meet they fight until one retreats, no death fight, both Master values the students lives (well X can't lose Vanitas before the XBlade is forged) - X's plan is first of all to bring Darkness to the worlds, then to forge the XBlade, then to possess Terra if needed - the Masters still refuse to directly fight so Xehanort cannot exactly kill Eraq's students, and the students, although doing a good job at destroying the Unversed, are still destroying them slowlier than Vanitas can summon them [that sentence is so grammatically incorrect]

That's it! That's long and full of holes but we will simply pretend not to see them, okay?

The sun was setting and the peaceful clearing was lit by a pretty shade of red. Vanitas's helmet was reflecting the sunlight, almost blinding Aqua. He noticed and removed it.

"So. What do you want? Don't you know it's pretty risky to contact me that way?"

She tried to look guilty, but her eyes were shining way too much. She had gone to many other worlds, trying to find Vanitas. When she did find him, they fought, as they were supposed to do whenever they'd meet, she whispered her message to him, unable to know if his master was spying on them – they had to look inconspicuous. He finally vanished, leaving behind a dozen of Unversed. She had noticed they were less aggressive towards her lately, and the creatures did not attack. She also noticed she was starting to feel guilty destroying the Unversed, and she now only killed those attacking her.

"I really needed you to be here today. It was important."

"Yeah. Kinda guessed it. Your message was "Come Friday when the sun is setting. It's important.". Mind elaborating?"

She couldn't hide her smile anymore as she answered.

"Today is Ventus's birthday!"

From his face, it was obvious this statement pissed him off.

"What of it? Do you want me to sing him a song? Give him a big hug perhaps?" he snarled, bitter. Aqua's big blue eyes widened in surprise.

"Of course not! I wouldn't ask you to... That's not what I meant, Vanitas!"

"So what? You brought me a slice of cake to pretend I'm part of your sick and twisted family?"

Her eyes reflected the pain caused by his words, but she calmly shook her head and brought back her happy face.

"We decided on Ven's birthday date based on when he joined us. Of course, he had no memory of his real birthday. But then, last week, I thought... Since you were born from the same heart, surely you should share the same birthday! Correct me if I'm wrong, but... I guess Master Xehanort never really celebrated that, did he?"

She could almost hear his brain processing her words, while he slowly shook his head.

"That's what I thought, and that's why I wanted you here today. Here! Happy Birthday!"

She took a small package from the basket she had been holding this whole time, and handed it to him. The packaging was carefully wrapped in a red paper, with a black ribbon around. He looked at it, puzzled.

"Come on, open it!" She was obviously excited, but he had issues grasping the situation. He never really had presents before. But she was staring at him so intensely that he tore the paper away, to find out the present was a book. He smirked.

"That's really like you to get me a book."

"I thought you might like this one, actually."

She was beyond happy, she was glowing. He could almost feel her stupid happiness all around him.

He looked at the book cover. It was the picture of a sky. He browsed quickly though the pages, and there was a lot of text with pictures of what he guessed were constellations. Somehow, he felt slightly happy that she had remembered that. But he couldn't really look at her right now. She noticed.

"Is something wrong?"

"Nothing. That's... that's a great book. Thanks."

She gasped, as if she had understood. But there was no way she would with only what he had said, right?

"Vanitas... Could it be... You cannot read?" Her voice was void of judgement, of mockery, of pity. It was just a question.

"Well, the old man did not really think that mattered. But how in the worlds did you..."

"It just occurred to me Ventus couldn't read either when he joined us. I think it could have been because of the amnesia, but if you were born back then... It's no surprise."

Vanitas looked away. He did not know if he should be angry to be compared to Ventus again, or glad to know that loser couldn't read either.

"Do you want me to teach you? It might take some time, but trust me, it's worth it."

"Whatever. I'm easily bored, that could keep me busy for a while."

Did she notice his actual blush, no matter how light it was? Surely, she would think it was because of the sunset. But what about the shaking in his voice? If she noticed, she didn't say anything. She just smiled at him.

"That's a deal then! Soon, you'll be able to read that book on your own, and learn so much more about the stars. But before that..."

She pulled something else from her basket. He was curious. Another present?

He actually gawked when she pulled out a big chocolate cake from the basket.

"Before that, let's eat! Happy Birthday, Vanitas!"

It was probably because he never had any before, but that was the best birthday of his life.

We all need some fluff in our lives! So that's one of the headcanon of this story: Vanitas cannot actually read. (Fun fact : when I first wrote the chapter, Aqua had given a paper invitation to Vanitas... So basically at the beginning of the chapter he was like "hey I read your invitation so I came" and at the end "by the way I can't read", I facepalmed soooo hard when I realised how stupid I was x'D)
[Side note: When Vanitas bitterly asks if she brought him a slice of cake, Aqua must have thought that he would refuse the cake she brought... No worries, he ate most of it by himself XD ]

This chapter was the first idea that came to my mind when I decided to write this fic! The two other chapters were meant to set things up: Vanitas loving the stars and Vanitas being unable to read. Next chapter will be the beginning of an arc~

Happy Halloween, all of you!