Okay, I'm having a week even busier than what I thought, sorry I couldn't post this earlier!
They had not given up. They would not meet on the clearing anymore, they both knew it was too risky. But they would meet on other worlds, where the rules were different. They fought, blade against blade, and when they were close enough, Aqua would tell him a word and he would have to spell it. Sometimes, pretending he was stunned by her attack (most of the time it wasn't even pretending), he would write the word on the dust. Sometimes, pretending she was stunned by his attack (most of the time it wasn't even pretending), she would write another word on the dust, and he would have to read it out loud.
He would leave notes on his Unversed, always the same one (Aqua decided to call her Memo, Vanitas said it was a stupid name but started using it as well), and Aqua would correct them. He was getting better at writing, he could now use lowercase and started being familiar with cursive as well. His handwriting was becoming steadier, he would write longer notes. Sometimes, he would just copy some passages of books he'd find here and there.
And on really rare occasions, he would open a corridor right to her room and they would read together some extracts from his birthday book, she would tell him about what she had learnt from Master Eraqus or he would tell her about some of the worlds he visited.
They never mentioned their fight of Light and Darkness. Sure, when they fought in the worlds, she would have to destroy the Unversed he created, noticing how he actually recoiled whenever she destroyed too much, and he would try to hurt her. But that was just a part of the game they were playing – a dangerous game, in which their duty was to stop each other, but their goal was to learn as much as they could from one another without getting caught.
Aqua knew she had been found out. Terra was not stupid, he had noticed how she would come back home exhausted but happy, and while he sometimes helped her to get rid of Unversed, he would ask her to finish the job seconds before Vanitas would show up. Of course she wouldn't mention that to Vanitas, and she did not exactly spoke of it with Terra either.
However, the day where they had to stop pretending came.
Aqua had been teaching some Magic tricks to Ventus all morning, when she noticed though the window a dark creature in the park, twitching its ears at her. She smiled without really noticing.
"Aqua? What's so funny?" Ven asked, tilting his head the exact same way the Unversed did. Aqua smiled at him.
"Nothing. But we deserve a break. How about we resume this afternoon?"
Ven smiled, probably relieved. "Sure! I'm going to my room, I'll see you after lunch!"
She ruffled his hair and left.
She spotted the Unversed from afar, hiding between the trees. She started to go after it, jogging as if she was just doing her daily training. But before she could reach her messenger, she realized she wasn't alone. Terra, keyblade in hand, was about to destroy the creature.
"Terra, no!" He stopped right away and looked at her. The creature quickly bounced to Aqua, hiding behind her legs. Aqua kneeled and scratched the tiny Unversed right between its ears.
"Please. Don't hurt her."
"Her?" He didn't really sound angry. She was glad.
"Yes. Her name is Memo. She is... She carries some messages." Aqua carefully picked the paper wrapped around the creature's neck. "She means no harm. She is but a messenger."
Terra smirked. "So that's how the two of you communicate, uh? Who would have thought."
He started walking towards her, and saying she wasn't afraid would be a lie. She cradled Memo in her arms, trying to protect her. But Terra simply kneeled next to her and patted Memo's head carefully. "And you even gave it a name. That's really like you. Couldn't you put a collar or something on it... Sorry, her, so that I don't destroy her by accident?"
Aqua's cheeks turned pink as she looked at Terra. "Terra... Thank you."
He smiled at her and messed with her hair.
"Don't you worry. I won't tell the Master about it. I don't know what him and you are doing, but really, I don't care. As long as you can promise me he's not hurting you..."
"He's not!" promptly assured Aqua.
"Well, as long as he is not a threat, and I don't see him here... Because he's my enemy doesn't mean he's got to be yours. I hope that one day, you will accept to tell me what is going on, but until then... Have fun."
As if reacting to his words, Memo jumped from Aqua's arms right to Terra's lap, and Aqua threw her arms at Terra's neck.
"Woah there, that's a lot of affection! You know I'll always have your back."
He gently fondled her hair and stood up, carefully putting Memo back on Aqua's lap.
"It's my turn to make lunch. And don't you have a message to read?"
She returned his smile and unfolded the paper.
There is this world with mani stars. Want to see them tomoro nay (it was crossed out) nit (crossed out) night?
She held the paper close to her heart. She knew life was not quite so simple, but at this moment, there wasn't a thing that could have ruined her happiness.
Can't remember if I mentioned it in the chapter before this one (I doubt it), Memo is a Hareraiser if you want to know. They are probably my favourite Unversed, they are incredibly cute ! What kind of feelings Vanitas could put into something so cute? (fear of growing up perhaps? tell me what negative thing you would associate with it!)
I needed another way for them to communicate (just use cellphones already kiddos!), an Unversed sounded like a good idea! (the only risk is for the message to be intercepted which is why I needed a small Unversed. Memo was originally a flood, but then I thought Aqua would like a cute bunny [well no actually I liked the idea of a cute bunny XD] )
Will try to post another one this week!