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Chapter 17: Two

"Do you think Ven is alright?"

The two walked along the hard, dark rock of the Realm of Darkness.

Nodding, Terra smiled under his helmet. "I think this will be good for him. We still don't know about his past, so maybe it will be good for him to be in a house with parents, even though he kinda acts like we're his parents."

"I know." Laughed Aqua. "Remember when he gave us those Disney Town passes and said that he had to 'take two grown ups'."

Both of them laughed, pushing away the darkness around them just a little.

"And he might get to play with other kids his own age."

"That would be great for him."

For a little while, they walked in silence, the Heartless only watching them from a distance thankfully.

It had been a while since it was just the two of them.

"Hi Terra." A younger Aqua walked up to where Terra sat on the grass. "What are you doing?

The boy looked up. "Nothing. Just whittling."

"Whittling? My father used to do that." She sat next to him. "What are you making?"

"A training Keyblade. We have those wooden swords, but I want to make my own." He held up the piece of wood he was working on. "This is going to be the handle. Do you want me to make you one too?"

"I'm ok, but thanks."

He smiled. "But you are always baking things for us. Isn't there something I can make for you?"

The girl giggled. "Hmm, you pick."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

A gleam filled Terra's eyes making her giggle.

Finally, Terra spoke again. "I'm thinking of taking on a student."

"Really?"

"My half-sister, Tsukiko." His gaze moved her way. "I mentioned it to my mom, but I figured I would give her time to talk to my stepfather before asking them directly if it's ok."

"I love that idea."

"Have you thought about taking on a student?"

Nodding, she looked back at him. "I had hoped to take Kairi under my wing and continue her training, but she's asleep now. Maybe when she wakes up… But other than that, I've been a little nervous about taking on a student. I don't know how good a teacher I will be. I tried to take care of you and Ven, and it didn't go well, so taking care of a child… I don't know."

"Well, you won't be teaching whoever they are alone. I'll help." Gently, his armored shoulder brushed against her own. "And I think you'll be a great teacher."

Thank goodness her helmet was on!

That way he didn't see the way her cheeks changed color to a soft pink.

"Th-thanks."

She could feel his smile from under his helmet, and the blush deepened. "I want to stay at the Land of Departure. When Ven becomes a master, I bet he will want to travel around, but I get the feeling you desire to stay as well. And I'd love to stay with you. We can rebuild the old Keyblade order and make it even better than before."

"Do you think the others might want to join?" She asked quickly.

"Maybe Sora, Riku, and Kairi, but I don't see the others wanting to continue."

Taking a deep breath to quell the remaining blushing, she nodded. "Yeah. And…" Payback time. "I would be happy if you stayed around."

Revenge is sweet.

As Terra paused for a moment in his walk, and he also thanked the stars that his helmet was on to hide his blush.

"Yeah…"

"Terra!" Aqua ran over to the boy, grabbing his hand which dripped with crimson.

He sniffled as she cast a healing spell on him. "Th-thanks."

"What happened?"

"I was making a present for you." He looked down at the piece of wood and the knife on the floor.

Aqua blinked. "Oh, well please be careful." She looked down and saw many small, already healing nicks and scratches. "Seriously, please be careful."

"I'll be fine, I promise."

Their walk continued through the darkness.

Comfortable in silence.

They walked for a long while.

Aqua felt no darkness pulling in on her, even without the game they played before. Just a calmness from the person who walked beside her.

Even when Heartless decided to attack them, they fought together, side-by-side.

And while they both missed Ven's cheerfulness, they both knew he probably felt better on the islands.

And then they found it-

"I know this place…"

Aqua's steps paused as she beheld a familiar beach, stretching out toward a dark horizon. Her breath hitched before coming back in heavy gasps. Her vision began swimming slightly.

Flashes of a memory.

Being attacked and flung into the water.

Darkness creeping across and through her-

Dragging her deeper into its clutches-

Taking her feelings of fear, anger, helplessness, and sorrow and filling her entire body and soul with their icy touch.

"Aqua," Terra stepped between her and the beach, taking off his helmet, "look at me. Take a deep breath. I'm right here." He put his hands on her shoulders, focusing her gaze on him.

Breathe…

Just breathe…

In…

And out…

In…

And out…

Her heart rate and breathing eventually slowed down.

"I-I'm alright."

"No, you're not." Terra pulled her into a tight hug. "Is this where you fell into the Abyss?"

"Yes."

His touch brought warmth, pushing away the icy memory of darkness.

Eventually, she pulled back, looking down at the sandy ground. "I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry about." He took her hand, holding his helmet in the other. "Just take it one step at a time. I'm here."

Her eyes still on the sand, she took some steps forward. More steps continued until she came to the edge of the water.

The sounds of the ocean filled her ears as she closed her eyes, picturing the Destiny Islands in her mind.

And when she finally opened her eyes, she stared out at the dark ocean.

"This isn't just the place where you fell. This is the place where you were rescued." Terra squeezed her hand. "You escaped this dark place from here, thanks to Sora, Riku, and Mickey. So, there is a good memory."

He put his helmet back on as Aqua knelt down, putting her armored hand in the cool water. "Yeah…"

Looking around, Terra sighed. "Well, Sora isn't around here, but this is a good landmark for us."

"And eventually everyone finds their way here." Standing up, Aqua turned her back on the ocean, looking back at the dark realm. "Maybe, we should start our searches here from now on, and make a perimeter."

"Are you ok with starting here?"

"I can do it… as long as I'm not alone."

"You won't be." Again, he brushed his shoulder against hers before turning to face her again. "By the way, about our conversation earlier…"

"Yeah?"

"I meant what I said about you being a good teacher. You're caring and kind; always have been. You take such good care of Ven. And I know that you always tried to take care of me, even if I didn't see it. You sacrificed so much for us, and while we all ended up in poor situations, it wasn't your fault; it was because of you that things get even worse. You've always been there for us. And I'm sorry I didn't recognize that before when you were just trying to make sure I was alright. I know I said you were right, but I never apologized for the things I said to you in anger. I understand that you were right, and you only did it out of concern for me."

She looked back at him. "I should apologize too. I shouldn't have doubted you and should've communicated my intentions earlier and better."

"You had good reasons to doubt me. I made some stupid mistakes to be completely fair."

"We both made mistakes."

Again, Terra reached out to her, and she closed the gap, taking his hand. "Well, at least as teachers, now we will work together and balance each other out."

"Yes, we will."

"Aqua…" Terra walked into the library, his hands behind his back. "I have something for you."

She looked up from her book. "Oh, did you finish it?"

"I did."

He held out a tulip made of wood. The cuts looked rough, but it was certainly a flower.

"Oh wow! It's so pretty!"

"I would've painted it, but I figured you'd probably like to paint it yourself." He smiled warmly.

"I'd love to! We can paint it together."

"You can," Eraqus approached, smiling at the two children, "after you finish your research on ancient Keyblade techniques."

Terra grinned, grabbing a book. "Right away!"

Aqua giggled, holding the flower in her lap.

…

The orange painted flower that sat on her desk to this day.

"You're back!" Chirithy hopped down from his sleeping perch as Terra and Aqua returned.

Terra smiled. "And Ven should be coming soon."

And soon enough, he came, his countenance bright.

"How was your trip?" Aqua asked.

"It was great!" Ven grinned. "Sora's parents are super nice, and the islands are so relaxing."

And Chirithy smiled-

Especially after Ven had no nightmares that night.

Or the next one.

Or the next.