Hi guys, Author here! Just so you know, since FanFiction kinda has strict rules against explicit content, this chapter has had a couple of scenes removed. I debated on if I should alter the scenes in some way, but it just didn't feel right to water them down. So if you'd like to see this whole chapter uncensored, please read the version of A Heart and a Half on Archive of Our Own, where I have it posted under the name VengeVerse. Anyway, sorry for the interruptions and please enjoy the rest of the chapter!


Chapter 16: Mirror, Mirror


After several consecutive days of attempting and failing to completely scrub his own dried blood from the observatory's hardwood floor, Vanitas finally gave up and simply rolled out a big rug from a nearby storage closet to hide the stain.

He and Aqua had spent their time tending to the gardens, practicing magic and Keyblade techniques, and had started playing Fruitball again. Aqua could now use Ghost Drive twice in a row without feeling dizzy, meanwhile Vanitas had set aside his French lessons and instead dedicated himself to researching constellations in the observatory.

Vanitas rose from his cushioned chair and stretched before setting the star-chart he'd been studying atop a slowly growing tower of books. He made his way past the large bronze telescope, padding across the soft rug and out the door leading to the narrow tower bridge in order to get a clear view of the empty night sky.

He squinted and tilted his head as he gazed up at the dark canopy, imagining a cluster of twinkling stars scattered against the inky void above.

If I just place a few there… and there…

Yes, that would work. Vanitas nodded to himself and glanced out across the Castle's shining towers and past the silent forest, contemplating the pitch-black darkness beyond.

He'd spent hours pondering possible escape routes from the Castle of Dreams. There was no longer a bridge leading off the floating island since the one connected to Castle Town had collapsed, and climbing down into a presumably bottomless chasm wasn't an option, either. Still, the Orcus and the Invisibles must've flown in from somewhere. If only he and Aqua had wings like that…

While Vanitas had already told her that his largest flying Unversed, the Metamorphosis, couldn't survive outside a zero-gravity environment, he had considered roping some furniture to the propeller of a Trinity Armor and cobbling together some sort of flying contraption— though he doubted the Unversed could safely carry his and Aqua's combined weight.

They could try surfing on their Keyblades like how he'd done in the Graveyard. Aqua had a decent sense of balance and was light on her feet, but that'd require them to continuously cast Aeroga to stay airborne and they'd most likely run out of Mana before too long; without Ethers they'd risk falling straight into the pit.

No, if they were to safely leave the Castle of Dreams, they would need to fly a different way…

Vanitas furrowed his brow, flexing the fingers on his right hand; Void Gear brushed up against the edge of his consciousness, anticipating his summons. As far as he could tell, there was only one truly reliable method of escaping the Castle, but first he needed to focus on Aqua's gift.

Dismissing Void Gear from his mind, he returned his attention to the blank sky above the observatory tower.

This would require a lot of Unversed.

Vanitas closed his eyes and focused as he reached into the depths of his heart, gently prodding a multitude of slumbering Unversed to awaken. The creatures sleepily acknowledged his summons, tendrils of Darkness lazily curling around his arms.

A long, slow breath escaped his lips. It had been a while since he'd summoned so many Unversed at once, but he needed them all for Aqua's gift. He hoped she would enjoy it; he'd poured his love into it, after all… And he wouldn't mind getting another kiss as a bonus!

With that hopeful thought in mind, Vanitas spread his arms and released the Unversed into the sky.


XXXXXXXXXXXXX


"Alright, just where are you taking me?" Aqua asked playfully as Vanitas led her along one of the Castle's many hallways by the hand, Bleu following close behind.

He glanced back and gave a mysterious little grin without breaking his stride. "You'll see."

Aqua hummed in faux suspicion. Vanitas had been a bit secretive ever since she'd gifted him his Wayfinder, slipping away at random moments while mumbling about some vague task— usually right after admiring said red charm. She had a hunch he was up to something, but had decided not to pry. At least she could thank the Light he hadn't said a word about the kiss; Aqua certainly wasn't about to bring it up.

She'd been doing her best to keep herself busy to occupy her mind, but that wasn't exactly easy considering how much time they spent in each other's company— even with Vanitas's newly acquired clandestinity. Keeping her true feelings for him a secret was much harder than Aqua had anticipated. While she'd gotten over the initial awkwardness of the 'kissing incident', she frequently caught herself admiring his handsome features for just a little too long, and often had to resist the urge to run her hands through his hair…

Don't start that now, Aqua!

She pushed those thoughts aside as they reached the fifth floor corridor and began climbing the spiral staircase at the end of the hall. Vanitas pushed open the door and held it for her and Bleu. Aqua entered and looked around the circular room.

The observatory didn't exactly hold pleasant memories for her, seeing as Vanitas had nearly died here after their fight with the Invisibles. Unlike the last time she'd been here, the candles were lit, the reflection of their dancing flames shining brightly along the bronze telescope; there was a stack of books next to a plush chair, as well as a large rug she was pretty sure hadn't been there before.

"Is this what you wanted to show me? You did a little redecorating?" she teased, indicating towards the rug as Bleu leapt onto the chair and settled down.

"Huh? Oh, don't mind that," Vanitas said with a slight blush before clearing his throat. "I wanted to give you a special 'thank you', for giving me the best gift I've ever gotten. It's not as cool as a Wayfinder or anything, but…"

"Oh Van, that was a birthday present! You don't have to get me anything."

"Yeah I know, but still. I wanna show you something." He beckoned for her to come closer and gestured towards the telescope. "Go ahead, look."

Aqua gave him a curious glance, but stepped over to the telescope and pressed an eye to the lens. She gasped at what she saw.

There were dozens of twinkling dots in the sky.

"Stars…?" Aqua breathed in disbelief, tears welling in the corners of her eyes. Her fingers trembled as she adjusted the dials on the telescope to zoom in and refocus.

The dots weren't stars, but dozens of Jellyshades in a variety of colors— red, blue, pink, and green. They gently bobbed up and down where they floated in the night sky, the Light of the Castle glittering on their soft metallic bodies.

"They're not stars, exactly, but I did the best with what I had," Vanitas acknowledged hesitantly. "So… I hope you like it."

"Van… I love it," Aqua beamed; he instantly perked up. "How much work did you put into all this?"

"Just a bit of planning," Vanitas grinned. "Well… a lot, actually. Recognize anything?"

Aqua twisted the dial to zoom back out and spotted a familiar red, blue, and green trio of 'stars'.

"The Trinity Hearts! And…" she swiveled the telescope slightly to the left, "The Kingdom Key! Oh, this is wonderful…!"

She delighted at seeing them all, pointing out every constellation she knew and inquiring about the ones she didn't. Apparently Vanitas had consulted various source books and celestial maps containing several star patterns not viewable from the Land of Departure. That, plus training his Jellyshades to float in proper formation, must've taken him days to put together!

It was such a beautiful, unique gift. But…

She frowned and looked back at him. "Vanitas… aren't Jellyshades made from depression…?" There had to be dozens up there. Did he truly still have that much despair locked up in his heart?

"Yeah…" Vanitas shoved his hands in his pockets, then shrugged. "But after everything we've been through together… I dunno. It's like this huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders." He glanced at her, a contemplative expression on his face. "It's weird; somehow I feel more like myself than I ever have."

"I'm glad…" Aqua trailed off as Vanitas slowly drew closer, her breath hitching as his cinnamon scent washed over her and she met his eyes— those piercing twin irises of molten gold. She flushed, suddenly feeling very warm all over. Aqua tried to avoid his captivating gaze, only to catch sight of his pink lips.

She was suddenly struck by the overwhelming urge to kiss him!

But…

I… I can't.

Shoving all thoughts of kissing from her mind, Aqua reached out and pulled Vanitas's hand from his pocket, squeezing his wrist and caressing it with her thumb. "Thank you so much for this," she smiled. "It's been so long since I've seen the stars…."

For a split second she thought she saw a flicker of disappointment cross his face, but when she blinked it was gone.

"No problem," Vanitas grinned back. "We'll be seeing real stars soon enough."

"Hmm?"

"I know how we're gonna escape the Castle of Dreams."

Her heart almost skipped a beat, eyes widening in shock. "How?" she breathed.

Vanitas hummed and drew back his hand. "We're gonna do something we should've done a long time ago. If I hadn't been such an ass, I would've brought it up sooner." He took a deep breath and then looked her in the eye. "If we're gonna get outta here, then a Keyblade Glider is our best bet."

Aqua's lips parted in surprise. "A Glider? But you know I haven't fully bonded with Master Keeper, yet."

"Who said anything about Master Keeper?" Vanitas's red-and-black Keyblade materialized in a shower of gear-shaped sparks. He twirled it around before resting it on his shoulder. "…You're gonna teach me how to use a Glider."

"But— Van, it took me months to master that technique; we don't have that kind of time. Who knows how much time has already passed in the Realm of Light?"

Vanitas shook his head. "You talked to Terra before, right? Did he say how long it's been up there?"

She winced. "…I didn't think to ask."

"That's okay," he said quickly. "Listen… Don't worry about any of that. All you gotta do is show me how to make one of those fancy Gliders, and leave the rest to me."

Aqua chewed on her lip, thinking hard. It wasn't as if they had other options… Yes. Even if it took months, it was better than doing nothing.

"Alright," she nodded, and Vanitas grinned. "Let's get started."


XXXXXXXXXXXXX


Aqua chose an open grassy field at the edge of the forest for Vanitas to practice, just a little ways away from the white gazebo. Bleu observed from a safe distance, laying on the gazebo's bench and peering out between the spokes of the railing.

"So you probably already know this, but a Keyblade is more than just a weapon," Aqua began, slipping into that 'teacher mode' Vanitas had come to find rather endearing. "It's a part of your heart— an extension of who you are, and its design reflects that."

He nodded, adjusting his grip on Void Gear. "Heard it all before."

"Right. Well, a Formchange —like making a Glider, for example— requires you to modify your Keyblade's shape," she explained, gently running a hand along Master Keeper's long black shaft. "However, unlike a Keyblade evolution, it's only temporary."

"My Keyblade's never evolved," Vanitas frowned, glancing down the length of Void Gear's blade. "And neither has Ventus's. Yours and Terra's did, though."

"Mhm," Aqua acknowledged. "My Stormfall used to be Rainfell, and Terra's Earthshaker became Ends of the Earth. But Master Eraqus said some Keyblades never evolve."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Hmm… I don't think so? It might just prove how resolute your and Ven's hearts are."

His lips quirked in amusement. "Yeah, I guess the two of us are pretty stubborn."

"I meant in a steadfast sort of way."

"I know," Vanitas grinned, before tilting his head thoughtfully. "…Think that'll cause a problem with the Formchange?"

"It shouldn't. At least, it didn't for Ven… Anyway, the Master said that ancient Keyblade Wielders could transform their Keyblades into all sorts of different weapons and vehicles, but he wanted us to learn Gliders, first."

"How come he let Ventus learn it? Thought Eraqus didn't want him going off-World."

"Well…" Aqua said slowly, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, "Ven was very insistent on attending lessons with Terra and me."

"He was good at whining to get his way, you mean."

"Now, Van. Should you really be talking about your brother that way?" she teased, placing a hand on her hip. "Especially considering how cute you are when you pout."

"…I shouldn't have said anything," Vanitas deadpanned as his cheeks turned red; Aqua laughed. 'Brother'… huh. He was still getting used to that. "So tell me, what's this I'm hearing about turning your Keyblade into different weapons?"

Aqua hummed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well for me, Stormfall's Glider form doubled as a longbow with multi-shot magic arrows."

Vanitas immediately perked up. "Wait, seriously? How come I never knew about this?" he grinned eagerly, Void Gear vibrating in response to his excitement. "What'll mine turn into? Maybe a battle axe? Or… a really big cannon?!"

"Slow down, let's focus on your Glider, first," she smiled knowingly.

"Alright, alright. Show me how it's done."

Aqua nodded and assumed a basic stance, twirling Master Keeper in her hand. "I can't demonstrate properly without Stormfall, but Master Eraqus had us concentrate on the bond between ourselves and our Keyblade. Its shape is rigid right now, so you'll need to let it loosen up and spread its 'wings' if it's going to fly. Then, still focusing on that bond, you let your Keyblade soar, and…"

She tossed Master Keeper straight up in the air; it spun several times before landing upright in the grass with its teeth buried in the soil.

"…If you do it properly, it should transform." Aqua held her hand out for the Keyblade, but it didn't budge. Sighing, she walked over to retrieve it.

"It's still disobeying you sometimes, huh."

"Unfortunately; otherwise I'd practice with you," Aqua lamented, returning to his side. "It'd help to imagine the shape of your Glider in your mind before you try it out."

Vanitas frowned. "How do you know what your Glider's supposed to look like?"

"You don't, really. It's like your Keyblade; it'll just… come to you."

"Is that so…"

He considered this. Aqua's jetski-esque Glider was too intricate in its design for his tastes, with three separate pieces to keep track of. Ventus's hoverboard would be a more natural fit; he'd already had plenty of experience surfing on ancient Keyblades in the Graveyard. However, Vanitas found himself more drawn to something like Terra's motorbike Glider— but perhaps more sleek and agile, less bulky. He could almost envision it at the edge of his mind— a fearsome yet streamlined engine of gears and chains and lustrous metal.

Vanitas breathed slowly as he mirrored Aqua's stance, reaching out through the bond he shared with Void Gear. He focused on the weightless rush he'd felt while surfing on the Graveyard's Keyblades, or zooming through the Lanes Between. Vanitas launched Void Gear into the air; the heavy Keyblade spun several times before landing in the grass with an awkward thud.

…Shit.

"That one didn't count," he said quickly, calling Void Gear back to his hand.

"Don't worry, you're not going to get it on your first try. I certainly didn't," Aqua reassured, pressing a hand over her heart.

Vanitas readied his stance again and made a second, and then third attempt; both times, Void Gear clattered to the ground. "…You say that, but you picked up Ghost Drive pretty damn quickly," he muttered after he'd thrown the Keyblade a fourth time, to no success.

"This is a very advanced technique; it took all of us a long time to learn it. Plus, I've never seen a Keyblade so complex, before. That might make it difficult for it to change its shape. You just need to keep practicing."

Vanitas scoffed, not bothering to hide his frustration. "Let me guess, you figured it out before everyone else." He flung Void Gear so hard that it imbedded itself into a nearby tree trunk.

Aqua startled at his outburst before giving him a cool look. "…Actually, Formchanges came more naturally to Terra than they did for Ven and me. You should see his Ultima Cannon."

He blinked. "Ultima— Wait, Terra can do that?"

"Mhm," she sniffed. "You're always surprised when he's good at something."

"Yeah, well…" Vanitas cleared his throat, feeling a bit sheepish under her reproachful gaze. "What I meant was… if Terra can do it, than so can I." He supposed if his own heart was so unshakable, it'd make sense his Keyblade would be equally stubborn, while Terra's was more easily swayed…

Aqua gave him a slight yet encouraging smile and a nod. Deciding to keep his musings on Terra to himself for his own good, Vanitas recalled Void Gear and continued to practice.

Unfortunately, repetition provided zero luck.

"…Maybe we should take a break," Aqua suggested as Vanitas let out an infuriated growl as his Keyblade tumbled to the ground for the thirteenth time.

"Agreed," he huffed, and promptly collapsed on the grass.

Aqua sat cross-legged next to him, setting Master Keeper aside.

Vanitas stared up at the blank sky for a few minutes before letting out a loud, frustrated sigh.

"What's on your mind?"

"It's just…" He took a moment, chewing on the inside of his cheek, "How are we gonna see real stars if I can't get this stupid Formchange thing to work? What if we're really trapped in the Realm of Darkness… forever, all 'cause I'm not good enough…?"

Aqua's eyes softened. "Van… you are good enough. Better than enough. You'll get this; it'll just take a little time."

"Maybe…"

"I'm sure of it. You just need to believe in yourself," Aqua insisted. "So… what else is wrong? Talk to me."

He shifted in the grass to meet her gaze, touched by her earnestness. "I was just thinking about something the rat king said to me…"

"Mickey?"

"Yeah, him…" Vanitas swept a hand through his bangs as he contemplated how to put this. "The first time I fought Ventus… Well, let's just say I had the upper hand before that rodent butted in."

"…Uh huh."

"It's true! Anyway, Mickey… He kinda implied I wasn't worthy of wielding a Keyblade. Hell, he practically accused me of stealing it," he scowled.

Aqua frowned deeply. "…He shouldn't have said that to you."

"Xehanort agreed," Vanitas shrugged blandly. "He thought I was undeserving too… Didn't know I was listening in when he told Terra that the Keyblade isn't mine to bear."

"That's not true!" she exclaimed, before her voice softened. "…You don't believe that, right?"

"…Nah. Doesn't make this whole Glider thing any easier, though. I've never had so much trouble with my Keyblade, before."

Aqua's gaze slid towards Master Keeper where it lay next to her in the grass. "…You and your Keyblade obviously have a strong bond; I've never seen it disobey you. Maybe it's just so attached to you that it doesn't want to change?"

"Huh…" Vanitas sat up. "That actually makes a lot of sense, seeing as it was born at the same time I was."

"You mean… that Keyblade manifested right after you and Ven were split?" she asked, indicating towards Void Gear.

"Yeah, actually. Xehanort gave us the power of the Keyblade back when me and Ventus were the same. I guess when you split a heart into two people, it splits the Keyblade, too."

"Oh, then Wayward Wind—!"

"Yep; used to be mine. Ventus gotta keep it, though."

"…Does that bother you?" she asked carefully.

He shrugged. "I dunno… Mine's served me pretty well."

Now Aqua's eyes were brimming with curiosity. "So, did you use to hold your Keyblade backwards, too? Master Eraqus tried to correct Ven's stance, but it never stuck."

Vanitas let out a short bark of laughter. "Yep. First habit Xehanort beat outta me— Hey, don't look at me like that; my Keyblade isn't designed for a reverse grip, anyway," he explained at her mortified expression. "You know, I think me and Ventus might've been left-handed at some point?" Vanitas mused, examining his palms. "Dunno what happened with that."

Aqua bit her lip. "This might be an odd question, but… Do you remember what your Keyblade ceremony was like? I can't imagine it was similar to the one Eraqus did for me…"

Yeah, probably not…

He'd previously told her that his memories from before the split were blank, but sometimes if he concentrated hard enough, he could just barely grasp onto a sliver of memory, although what little he could recall was always in scattered fragments— a word from his Master here, a glimpse of the Badlands there… Not enough to piece together.

Vanitas rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh… I think Xehanort gave some big speech about power and… I dunno. I don't really remember it."

"Doesn't sound like a proper Keyblade ceremony…"

"I don't doubt it," he chuckled. "What're they supposed to be like?"

"Well, I've only ever seen one ceremony— my own. Master Eraqus performed Terra's a couple years before he took me on as an apprentice, and Ven already had a Keyblade when he came to live with us."

"Oh? Did you have to go through some sort of trial? Like the Mark of Mastery Exam?"

Aqua shook her head. "No, it was pretty simple, actually. The Master led Terra and me to the training hall, and had me stand in the center. He talked about the importance of Keyblade Wielders, how it's our duty to protect the Worlds and maintain the World Order. Then he had me hold Master Keeper by the hilt, and said these words." She took up the Keyblade and raised it towards the sky, repeating a short poem she obviously knew by heart.

"'In your hand, take this Key. So long as you have the makings, then through this simple act of taking, its Wielder you shall one day be'."

Aqua paused to wipe a single tear from her cheek, settling Master Keeper onto her lap. "After that, I felt this… stirring, deep down in my heart, and before I knew it Rainfell was in my hand." She let out a shaky breath before swallowing and looked up at him. "Sorry, I guess I'm feeling a little sentimental. So, what do you think?"

"Definitely not verbose enough for Xehanort," Vanitas grinned kindly. "But… it's sweet."

"Mhm, thanks," Aqua smiled. "You know, traditionally only full-fledged Masters are supposed to pass down the power, but I know Terra gifted Riku a Keyblade— I could sense that he'd done it when I visited Destiny Islands."

"Riku?"

"Sora's best friend— silver hair, green eyes. I didn't give Sora a Keyblade because I thought it'd cause too much friction between them, with how much conflict Terra, Ven, and I were going through at the time…"

"Huh," Vanitas leaned back, glancing towards the gazebo where Bleu lay snoozing. "Sounds more like it'd make Sora jealous."

Aqua's forehead creased with worry. "You think so?"

"I mean, if Ventus had a Keyblade and I didn't? Absolutely."

"Sora didn't really seem like the type to get jealous of his friends…"

"Maybe not," he shrugged. "I've never actually met the kid."

She gave a slight smile. "I'll introduce you when we return to the Realm of Light."

Vanitas swallowed slowly and looked away.

Sora… what are you to me?

By sealing the hole Xehanort had torn in Ventus's heart with his own, Sora had saved both Vanitas and Ventus's lives. In that selfless act, the newborn heart had given Vanitas a face and a physical form, yet had also prevented him from fulfilling his destiny by invading the space where he belonged. He owed Sora for the former… and had briefly plotted to kill him for the latter. How in the Worlds would a first meeting between the two of them possibly go…?

"…Van?" Aqua interrupted his thoughts. Her smile was gone, replaced by a miserable, far-off expression that instantly made his heart sink. "About not being worthy of the Keyblade… You absolutely are. As for me… I've worried for a while now, with how Master Keeper refuses to listen to me sometimes, that I might not have 'the makings' of a Wielder, after all."

"Aqua…" Vanitas breathed softly. He couldn't bear seeing her in such despair. "If you're that worried about it… Hand it over."

"H-huh?!" Apparently she hadn't been expecting his bluntness and was startled right out of her melancholy.

"Let me check it out."

Aqua blinked, pressing her lips into a pout. "Well… okay. Be careful with it."

Vanitas rolled his eyes as she held out Master Keeper. "It's a Keyblade; it's not made of glass." Still, he made a show of holding it gingerly as he set it on his lap.

The first thing he noticed was how cold Master Keeper was to the touch. Void Gear always ran hot, as if it were a living thing. This Keyblade felt dead in comparison, much like its previous owner…

However, as he wrapped his fingers around the hilt, Vanitas could detect a weak sensation fluttering within the Keyblade; some spark of life still remained. Intuition told him that the current bond between Aqua and Master Keeper was tenuous at best. While it responded to her commands most of the time, it was clearly little more than a weapon in her hands.

Vanitas ran a palm along its smooth black shaft. Compared to his own Keyblade, Master Keeper was simple in its design, just a square hilt with a silver and rose-gold frame, with three square teeth arranged to resemble the letter 'E' on the other end— though if that stood for 'Eraqus' or was a mere coincidence, he wasn't entirely sure. Its Keychain ended in the same symbol that marked all those belonging to the Land of Departure.

Xehanort had once mentioned that this Keyblade had belonged to his own Master when he'd been an apprentice alongside Eraqus and Yen Sid. Eraqus had become their Master's Successor and therefore Master Keeper had been passed down to him. From the bitterness in Xehanort's tone as he'd recounted the tale, Vanitas had deduced that this fact still irked him a great deal, even decades later. Served the old bastard right…

Speaking of, that was the real conundrum. If Eraqus had named Aqua his Successor, then she should have no issues in wielding Master Keeper. But perhaps both the loss of its Master through such a violent betrayal, and the World it'd been forged to protect being cast into ruin, had been too much for the Keyblade. The trauma Master Keeper had experienced must've weakened it into its present catatonic state. Only the heart of a true Master could awaken this Keyblade, now.

"It's cold," Vanitas commented after he'd finished his examination, "But not dead. It's got more life than the Keyblades in the Graveyard, that's for sure. Your heart must've been sustaining it this whole time."

"So why doesn't it work properly?" Aqua implored. "Master Eraqus entrusted this Keyblade to me. Unless, the Master made a mistake…"

Vanitas drummed his fingers against Master Keeper's hilt. "…It's probably 'cause the most beautiful, capable Keyblade Master in all the Worlds is doubting herself."

Aqua's jaw dropped and her cheeks turned a startling shade of pink. "I… I-I—!"

"In other words, if you're gonna make a real connection with this Keyblade, you'll need more confidence in yourself as a Master. I mean, how can you believe in me if you don't even believe in yourself?" Vanitas grinned, holding Master Keeper out for her. "Sounds kinda contradictory, don't you think?"

She accepted the Keyblade, clearly at a loss for words. "I… Of course; you're right. Thank you, Van."

"No problem."

As she set Master Keeper aside, Vanitas noted that while it lacked the blue hues and snowflake-shaped teeth of Stormfall, it had an elegance which matched Aqua just as well. He had no doubt it could truly become her Keyblade, with time.

Aqua cleared her throat. "If it's alright with you… to help with the Glider, do you think I could see— Uh…" She blinked, faltering.

"What's wrong?"

"Van, I've just realized something… I don't actually know the name of your Keyblade," Aqua smiled sheepishly.

Vanitas startled. "Wait, I've never mentioned it before?!"

She shook her head, and he laughed.

"Damn, how'd I overlook that? It's Void Gear; don't forget it," Vanitas teased, calling the Keyblade to his hand and offering it to her.

"Void Gear…" Aqua repeated as her fingers closed over the hilt.


XXXXXXXXXXXXX


Censored Scene Summary: Aqua studies Vanitas's Keyblade, only to find that touching an object created from one's heart is much more intimate than she'd realized.


XXXXXXXXXXXXX


He didn't understand why his body was behaving so strangely. Aqua hadn't responded that way when he'd held Master Keeper… Then again, she hadn't fully bonded with it. Or maybe it had something to do with her being a girl? Something in his instincts was telling him that Aqua being a girl was very important… What was worse, something was wrong with his—

Vanitas gave an involuntary shudder before taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself. He'd gone for a walk after Aqua had hurriedly excused herself and dashed off with Bleu at her heels. Vanitas couldn't blame her; he had no idea what'd happened back there, only that his pants still felt much too tight…

His feet led him to the snowy hillside where he and Aqua had shared their snowball fight. He stopped, staring out across the frozen river.

Aqua's gentle touch had… awakened something within his Keyblade— or rather, himself. Some sort of… desire that'd become especially intense when she'd ran her hand over the length of Void Gear's shaft, almost as if she were tracing her warm fingers all over his body, caressing his most sensitive parts; his lips, his back, his thighs, his—

Vanitas shook his head in an attempt to clear it, to no avail. Try as he might, he just couldn't stop thinking about it.

He hadn't been lying when he'd told Aqua it'd felt like she was touching his heart. The indescribable sensation had arose in his chest, a blissful warmth which spread throughout his core, building in intensity where it'd settled just below his hips.

If that was how he felt just from Aqua touching his Keyblade, then… did he want her to touch him like that, too? Despite his utter confusion, it'd felt… good.

Damn good.

And then he'd gone and ruined it by randomly blurting out her name… And what's worse, it'd come out so much weirder than he'd intended…!

Vanitas groaned in frustration, pinching the bridge of his nose.

…Why had he said her name like that?!

He'd felt so Embarrassed that he'd accidentally released a handful of stupid Unversed— and of course since he'd told her, Aqua knew exactly which emotions they represented. She'd looked so perturbed when all he'd been trying —desperately— to do was tell her that it was nothing, that she shouldn't stop…

What the hell is wrong with me…?

Vanitas lowered his hand and let out a long breath. He hadn't even bothered reabsorbing the Hareraisers and Mandrake. Leaving his wayward emotions scattered all over the Castle grounds probably wasn't the best idea, but he didn't want the feeling of Shame back quite yet.

Although, shame wouldn't be nearly as confusing as whatever the hell he was currently experiencing. That mysterious, unidentifiable emotion —the one so much like hunger— had come back in full force.

Vanitas could tell it wasn't exactly affection, nor love, but something more… primal than that. Some animal instinct, that desperate craving for Aqua he'd felt the first time they'd met, when he'd become so intoxicated by the sugary sweet fragrance of her Light. Her scent had stung his soul back then, but thinking of it now just made him feel hot all over.

Just what was this strange and overwhelming emotion? Xehanort had refused to explain when he'd first inquired about it, though the old bastard had seemed quite amused. But, did Aqua know? Could he even muster up the courage to ask her?

All Vanitas knew was that he wanted to… kiss her. And more than just kiss her. He wanted to pin her to the ground, run his hands all over her body, lavish her with kisses and… And… what?

His mind went blank. There was something, some knowledge he was missing, some piece of the puzzle which he did not possess. It was almost as if he wanted to… attack Aqua, but… not hurt her? He… he didn't know what he wanted to do, really. All he knew was that he urgently wanted to touch her skin, and smell her hair…

What was he, some kind of dumb animal?

Vanitas grit his teeth, wincing as that horrible vision of himself —as a monster— devouring Aqua's heart suddenly flashed through his mind. He hadn't been dragged into that horrendous nightmare in so long, but what else could explain this… hunger?

I… I'm not a beast.

He knew he didn't want to eat Aqua. That'd be ridiculous.

You wanted to devour her heart, once; long before you dreamed it, the Darker part of his mind reminded.

Not helping.

Whatever previous untoward or invasive thoughts he may have had in regards to his best friend were long behind him… Or at least they should be. Anyway, this feeling was less like he wanted her inside him, and more like he wanted to be inside her—

Wait, WHAT?

Vanitas blinked. He hadn't wanted to merge with Aqua in months, so why…?

He suddenly grabbed a fistful of hair and sharply yanked until it hurt.

Knock it off, Vanitas! Stop being weird!

He waited until his breathing evened out before releasing his grip. The pain seemed to have grounded him somewhat; cleared his head, at least.

Alright; no more thoughts of attacking, eating, nor merging with Aqua. Kissing was off the table too, not until he could get this bewildering —and quite possibly dangerous— emotion under control.

Now that that was settled, he could absolutely use a distraction.

Brushing aside the twinge of guilt he felt over hurting himself, Vanitas refocused his gaze on the frozen river. There were still Heartless deep beneath the surface, trapped under the ice— the very last Heartless on the island, in fact…

Yeah… Those'll do nicely.

He might as well blow off some steam, and finishing off these monsters would at least turn all this pent-up energy into something productive.

Void Gear's familiar weight appeared in his hand and he gave it a few experimental swings. His skin still felt a little feverish and his pants weren't entirely comfortable, but his Keyblade seemed normal enough…

Satisfied, Vanitas took a step back and sent a blazing streak of Dark Firaga across the frozen river, cracking and melting the black ice.

He waited patiently as two Water Cores slowly rose from the water's surface and unfurled their writhing tentacles and thin black wings, shaking off the frost which clung to their bulbous bodies. Their glowing beady eyes fixated on him with an especially malicious expression. Vanitas supposed they hadn't appreciated being trapped in ice for so long.

Vanitas slowly backed up the snowy hill, coaxing the Water Cores closer as he devised a quick strategy. Their ranged attack didn't have a long reach, nor was it particularly powerful. Hitting them with a spell would be all he needed to swiftly dispatch the enemy… but where'd be the fun in that?

He narrowed his eyes as he focused on his prey, a sly, predatory grin darkening his features. Now this was a feeling he was familiar with— the thrill of the hunt.

Vanitas flash-stepped just as the nearest Water Core vomited a deluge of ice water, dodging beneath the spray. He ignored the few frigid droplets that splashed his skin as he stabbed up through the roof of its open mouth and pierced its brain. The Water Core spluttered and gagged, its lolling tongue desperately attempting to dislodge the Keyblade embedded in its skull.

Cold, slimy tentacles suddenly wrapped around Vanitas from behind, dragging him towards the second Water Core's gaping maw. He lost his grip on Void Gear as he grappled with the Heartless, twisting around in its slippery grasp.

Weaponless, Vanitas gave a feral snarl and violently jammed his thumbs into the beast's eye sockets. The Water Core shrieked in pain, the yellow goo of its oculars squishing around his digits. Vanitas took that opportunity to shove a Dark Firaga down its throat; the Heartless burst into a shower of wet ichor.

Vanitas panted fervidly, violence singing in his blood as he turned to see that the first Water Core had sunk low to the ground, yellow eyes rolled back into its head and tentacles wriggling feebly. Vanitas slammed his boot against its forehead and took ahold of Void Gear's hilt, wrenching the Keyblade free. The creature's black blood splattered across the snow before the entire carcass dissolved into mist.

That's the last of them.

The Castle of Dreams was officially free of Heartless. Vanitas would have to vent his frustrations elsewhere in the future…

He let out a long breath as he came down from his battle high, disappointed that the fight —more of a slaughter, really— had ended so soon. It'd been a while since he'd been able to indulge his bloodlust and really let loose like that, since Aqua wasn't around to worry for him. He wasn't quite sure he was ready to face her yet, but at least the tightness in his trousers had subsided.

Dismissing Void Gear, Vanitas headed back towards the Castle of Dreams. All this exertion, Glider training and combat alike, had made him hungry. He should probably get dinner started; Aqua would certainly appreciate the help.

He glanced at the vegetable garden as he neared the Castle's rear staircase, his previous embarrassment more-or-less forgotten. He and Aqua were still trying to conserve meat, but they had plenty of potatoes. Maybe he could—

Vanitas froze in his tracks, breath catching in his throat and heart hammering in his chest. Someone was watching him from the top of the white stone steps… and it wasn't Aqua.

No… it couldn't be— There was just no way…!

The figure turned and disappeared further into the Castle.

"W-wait!" Vanitas choked out and gave chase, racing up the steps two at a time.

He almost thought he'd imagined it when he caught a glimpse of the hem of a black-and-white jacket disappearing around the corner. Rounding it as fast as he could, Vanitas was suddenly met with a shock of cold air and he stumbled back, panting for breath.

A boy his age stood before him, with tussled blond hair and big blue eyes, and a strange little smile dancing on his lips.

"Ventus…?" he breathed, eyes wide in disbelief.

His other half —his brother— was standing right in front of him. Here, in the Dark World.

But how—?

Vanitas immediately stepped back, hackles raised; Void Gear rematerialized in his hand in an instant. "The hell…? You're not Ventus. You don't smell like Ventus. You don't smell like anything at all," he snarled.

He couldn't sense Ventus's heart anywhere within this… person. Whoever this was had a smile a little too wide, and eyes inhumanly bright… Then something clicked. Aqua had seen visions of her friends and Master around the Castle, and the one of Eraqus had been associated with a cold wind…

"You're what's been haunting Aqua!"

The fake Ventus's face smoothed into a blank expression. "You're far more perceptive than she is," he —it?— said emotionlessly. Its voice was strangely echoey, as if it were coming from far away or deep underwater.

"Yeah, well. I'd know the other half of my heart anywhere, and you ain't him. So what the fuck do you want?" Vanitas spat, raising his Keyblade in a combat stance. This piece of shit had been fucking with Aqua, and now it thought it could trick him by stealing his brother's face?!

"That is neither here nor there," the imposter said placidly, evidently unfazed by his hostility. "What matters most is what you want. A way off this island, and out of this Dark World. It's all that's been on your mind, lately." It tilted its head in a condescending manner. "That, and how desperately you want to do unspeakable things to your precious Aqua."

Vanitas narrowed his eyes, a deep growl emanating from his throat. Just how long had this thing been watching him? And how could it possibly know what he'd been feeling? It wasn't as if it could read his mind… unless—!

"Not your exact thoughts," it answered, confirming his suspicions immediately. "But I can read every twisted emotion etched upon your blackened little heart, Vanitas. Especially the more… unsavory ones."

Vanitas shot forwards, stabbing Void Gear straight through the imposter's chest, but his Keyblade just phased through where its heart should've been. He huffed, drawing back. Just as he'd suspected; this being was completely intangible, same as what Aqua had described about Eraqus's so-called 'ghost'.

The fake Ventus —or whatever it was— eyed him coolly. "Satisfied?"

Vanitas grit his teeth but gave a stiff nod.

"Well then… If you want answers, follow me." With that, it turned on its heel and headed down the hall.

"Huh? Where are you going?" Vanitas startled, but the apparition didn't answer. He watched it leave, overcome with unease.

Either this thing was leading him straight into a trap —which it almost undoubtedly was— or this was finally the sea-change he and Aqua had been waiting for. Either way, it clearly wasn't going to wait for him to dawdle.

Should he go get Aqua? Hell, he didn't even know where she was right now…

Damn it.

Every instinct was screaming that this was a bad idea, but logically this ghost —vision, phantom, whatever— couldn't do him any harm. Whatever mind games it'd played on Aqua wouldn't work on him.

Clenching his Keyblade more tightly in his grasp, Vanitas steeled himself and reluctantly followed the Phantom Ventus.

They didn't speak; the only sounds were Vanitas's own sharp footsteps against the marble tile and the clink of Void Gear's chains. By contrast, the Phantom's movements were eerily silent. It felt unnervingly uncanny, trailing behind this doppelgänger who looked exactly like Ventus, but didn't speak nor act anything like him.

Vanitas stayed on edge, keeping himself on high alert for even the slightest shift in the Phantom's demeanor— anything that may indicate an oncoming attack. Several powerful Unversed waited on the edge of his consciousness, ready to take shape if needed.

Despite his constant vigilance, the Phantom simply walked with its impassive gaze locked straight ahead, past the wine cellar and down a short flight of stairs. They worked their way through the trashed armory where Vanitas and Aqua had fought the Possessors, up to the huge stone door the Thresholder had been guarding.

Vanitas paused at the doorway, warily observing the thin spiral staircase which led down into the gloom. "The dungeon, huh," he scoffed edgily. "You want me to go down there, alone? With you?"

The Phantom fixed him with an inscrutable stare, not pausing its stride as it began descending the stone steps. "You are free to spend the rest of eternity in the Realm of Darkness, if that is what you truly desire."

You know damn well what I 'desire', you bastard. That's the problem…

"And why exactly should I trust your help?" Vanitas prodded.

The Phantom said nothing, continuing its steady descent.

"…Perfect," he muttered under his breath as he followed its downward climb. "That's just great."

They passed empty, rusted prison cells and entered the wide ovular chamber where he and Aqua had slain the Shadow Stalker. The blue torches lining the walls were still lit, their magical flames bathing the entire space in an unearthly glow.

Vanitas's footsteps echoed especially loudly as he and the Phantom reached the far end of the chamber. He suddenly slowed, eyes widening in surprise as he spied a shadowed archway he hadn't seen before. Vanitas supposed he and Aqua had been too busy arguing over his Unversed to notice it.

The Phantom didn't relax its pace, and Vanitas had to increase his stride to catch up with it. The archway opened into a long, dark hallway, empty save for the endless towering columns lining either side. Just like the Thresholder door and Shadow Stalker chamber, this part of the Castle didn't seem to fit with the rest.

Vanitas further heightened his senses, night-visioned eyes swiveling around in restless surveillance and knuckles turning white with tension around Void Gear's hilt. A potential enemy could be lurking behind each shadowy pillar…

The hallway felt endless, and the mirror-like floor and ceiling made traversing it especially disorientating; Vanitas noted that the Phantom lacked a reflection.

The further they went, the heavier and more oppressive the atmosphere became. Even his Darkness-blind nose could sense that this place held magic— deep, Dark magic. The very air was thick with it.

Finally reaching the end of the hall, Vanitas followed the Phantom through another arched opening and found himself in a small, round chamber. One wall was concealed by a thick blue curtain adorned with a pattern of golden moons and stars.

"We're here," the Phantom finally spoke, startling him. "Welcome… to the World Within," it announced as dramatically as its monotone would allow and stepped aside.

"This is what you wanted to show me?" Vanitas sneered. "The fucking drapery?"

A flicker of something almost like rage passed over its face, irises glowing a bright unnatural blue before settling back into a neutral expression.

Vanitas felt some smug satisfaction at that, though he was probably pushing his luck provoking a shady Dark entity of unknown power. The temperature of the room had dropped by several degrees; not encouraging.

He turned his attention back to the starry curtain. He couldn't imagine he'd enjoy whatever was lurking behind that celestial fabric, but he'd come too far to be chickenshit about it now…

Vanitas surveyed the Phantom from the corner of his eye as he approached the curtain and cautiously pulled it aside. What he saw made his jaw drop in shock.

He quickly turned to ask the Phantom, but it was gone.

Aqua needed to see this, now.


XXXXXXXXXXXXX


Censored Scene Summary: Aqua takes a bath to privately reflect on her feelings for Vanitas, worried about how to confess her love to him; things get a little steamy while she's alone.


XXXXXXXXXXXXX


"Why are we back here?" Aqua asked as she followed Vanitas through the dungeon, guiltily averting her eyes every time he happened to look her way. While it didn't smell nearly as bad now that the Shadow Stalker was dead, the place was quite chilly, especially with her wet hair sticking to her back.

"…You know that vision of Eraqus you saw?" Vanitas replied after a long moment.

"How could I forget?"

"And how you've seen Ventus and Terra, too?"

"Yes…" she answered slowly, a feeling of unease creeping up the nape of her neck.

Vanitas glanced back at her, his expression serious and dark. "I just met your Phantom Ventus."

Aqua froze, her heart skipping a beat. "What?"

"I was finishing off those Water Cores we left in the river when it just… showed up outta nowhere. It looked exactly like Ventus; tried to act like him too, at least until I called it out for what it was."

"How could you tell it wasn't him?" she asked, slightly breathless. The false vision of Master Eraqus had seemed so authentic, at the time…

"I know the other half of my heart; that thing wasn't Ventus," Vanitas snarled, flashing his canine teeth. "For a second I really thought it was him, and I…" He trailed off, glaring at the stone floor.

"Hey, are you okay?" Aqua asked, tentatively reaching out to squeeze his shoulder. Vanitas was obviously deeply bothered by this, just as she had been during her own harrowing encounter with her Master's 'ghost'. That experience had been so distressing; she regretted that he'd had to deal with this alone.

"Yeah, I'm fine; just pissed. It's just that I'd actually felt… I dunno. Excited, to see Ventus again." Vanitas reached up and intertwined their fingers, looking a little surprised at his own words. "But it was just some illusion trying to mess with my head. Damn bastard could read my mind…"

That… sounded eerily familiar. Aqua had almost forgotten the way the fake Master Eraqus had been able to answer her thoughts without her voicing them aloud. "Van, what if these visions, these Phantoms, are the same entity… like a shapeshifter?"

His glower deepened. "Yeah, I thought of that. Dunno why it's only taking forms of people we know, though. Whatever it is, it's far too smart to be a Heartless, but it's almost definitely native to the Dark World."

Aqua shuddered, pulling her hands to her chest. "Light, that's so creepy, knowing something's been watching us this whole time…"

She swallowed nervously and glanced around their shadowy surroundings. Was the Phantom secretly observing them right now? That alone was bad enough, but if this mysterious being could read minds, then it'd know exactly how she felt about Vanitas…

"Uhm, Van? What did it tell you, exactly?" Aqua finally looked him full in the face, watching carefully for his reaction.

To her dismay, a light flush dusted his cheeks and he averted his gaze. "Uh, it mostly just taunted me."

"About…?"

"It… wanted me to follow it; showed me something that you're gonna wanna see."

"Oh."

Vanitas wasn't a good liar and he was obviously hiding something. Could the Phantom have already told him about her feelings? What if it told him about her private activities…?!

Aqua nervously chewed her lower lip, trying not to panic. "Van… I don't think you should be listening to this Phantom. I mean, we don't know anything about it or what it wants; it's probably dangerous."

Vanitas sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Trust me, I don't like this any more than you do. Thing is, I already drove my Keyblade straight through its heart and that did nothing, like it was made of air. As far as I can tell, it can't do anything to us and we can't do anything to it."

"But why do what it says?"

"'Cause I think it knows how to escape the Castle of Dreams, and maybe the Realm of Darkness, too."

"'Escape'…?" Aqua echoed, stunned. "Do you really think it's telling the truth?"

Vanitas shook his head. "Honestly? I have no clue. It's been openly hostile towards both of us so I sure as hell don't trust it, but… Well, it's easier if I show you than try to explain. Keep your Keyblade ready, just in case."

They resumed their venture through the dungeons, and Aqua's mind wandered. Could it really be true? A way to escape the Dark World, right here in the Castle? Somewhere they'd overlooked? She dared not hope, especially not when the information came from an enemy. But if it was true, then…

Their footsteps echoed as they passed through the Shadow Stalker's chamber, through a mysterious archway and into a long hallway full of columns with a ceiling and floor so polished that they shone like two giant mirrors.

"I can't believe we missed this when we were searching the Castle," Aqua whispered, the ominous atmosphere of the place making her want to keep her voice low.

"Yeah," Vanitas replied tersely, his expression tense.

She kept close to his side, Master Keeper drawn at the ready. The air felt heavier with every breath. It didn't smell bad per se, but carried a Dark odor nonetheless.

After what seemed like an eternity, they finally reached the end of the hall and entered a small, round room decorated by a celestial curtain. Vanitas stepped up to it and tugged on one of the curtain's golden tassels, causing it to sweep aside; Aqua gasped in awe.

What lay before her was a gorgeous torchlit chamber with beautiful marble floors embellished by an elaborate gold trim, the tall black ceiling above glittering like shattered glass. She slowly descended a short stone staircase and walked the length of the chamber, gazing at every detail with a sense of wonder. Spiral columns and sweeping arches flanked either side of a long, embroidered blue rug which stretched to the center of the room. Embedded there on the floor was a ring of stones depicting the twelve signs of the western zodiac, with a star symbol at its center.

Aqua walked along the outside edge of the stone ring, pausing by her own star-sign, the Virgo. She was pretty sure Vanitas was an Aries, judging by when Ventus had been brought to the Land of Departure. While she'd never given much credence to astrology, there was an intriguing air of mystery surrounding the practice. Perhaps that's why the pull of Dark magic felt stronger here than anywhere else in the room.

Pulling her gaze from the zodiac ring, Aqua observed the seven stone pavilions surrounding the hub of the chamber. They too were decorated by blue curtains patterned with golden moons and stars, and each contained a large, oval-shaped mirror.

Everywhere were objects which lent to an antiquated and academic air. Upon and around tables with tablecloths of the same material as the curtains were stacks of books and white candles, empty picture frames, and collections of dark blue pottery. Decorative crests in the shape of knightly shields hung from some of the pillars, and ornate braziers on pedestals held mystical blue flames.

Despite the sheer beauty of the place, it did nothing to curb Aqua's unease. The Darkness here felt stronger than anywhere else in the Castle. If she was asked to describe it, she would say this chamber was beautiful and terrible all at once.

"The Phantom called this the World Within," Vanitas said, approaching her. He seemed a little more relaxed, apprehension replaced by curiosity.

Aqua herself was torn between trepidation and an eagerness to explore. "'The World Within'…?" she repeated slowly. "How strange; this place reminds me of the lair of Queen Grimhilde."

Vanitas tilted his head. " Grimhilde?"

"Snow White's wicked stepmother," Aqua explained. "The seven dwarfs told me she'd killed Snow White with a poisoned apple— though she was actually only in a magically-induced coma, thank the Light. Prince Florian was able to awaken her with a true love's kiss. It was like a miracle."

"Guess this place must be a piece of the Dwarf Woodlands, then…" Vanitas mused, before frowning thoughtfully. "So, are all stepmothers evil?"

"Surely not," she answered, pursing her lips at the thought of Lady Tremaine.

"If you say so. Hey, why is falling into comas so common for Princesses of Heart?" he pressed on, cracking a slight grin. "First Aurora, then Snow White… Might as well call Ventus a Princess, too."

Aqua couldn't help but laugh a little at that, despite the atmosphere.

The two of them began investigating the room. Vanitas stepped into one of the pavilions as Aqua picked up a random book and leafed through it, only to find to her dismay that it was written in a language she couldn't comprehend.

"Hey, Aqua? Come check this out."

She set the book down and followed Vanitas into the pavilion. He was pointing to the mirror hanging on the back wall. Aqua gave him a quizzical look before peering into it. To her surprise, the mirror wasn't reflecting the chamber they were standing in. Instead, it was more like a distorted window, showing a room full of treasure chests on the other side. Vanitas reached towards it.

"Wait!" She grabbed his wrist just before his fingertips could brush the glass. "Don't touch the mirrors!"

"Why not?" Vanitas startled, eyes wide.

"When I went to Queen Grimhilde's lair looking for a way to cure Snow White, I touched a magic mirror just like this one and it transported me into a magical dimension! There was this creepy masked spirit inside that attacked me and I had to defeat it to escape."

"So if we touch the mirror, we'll be teleported into that room?"

"It's certainly a possibility, and I don't know if we'd be able to get back out. Think about it, what if all that treasure in there is to tempt people into getting themselves trapped?"

Vanitas quickly drew his hand back. "Look, but don't touch; got it."

Aqua nodded. "Better not get too close."

"Still, there's gotta be something here we can use," he frowned, looking around. "How about you check the mirrors on that side, and I'll check these."

The other mirrors were very much the same. Instead of reflecting the World Within, two of them contained small empty rooms, while another held a gloomy staircase which stretched endlessly into the void. Was this really the way to escape the Castle of Dreams? Take a leap of faith on the word of a literal Phantom and hope one of these mirrors would lead to salvation?

"Hey, this one's different!" Vanitas called from the other side of the chamber. "Looks like it opens into that gemstone mine from the Dwarf Woodlands!"

"A mine?" Aqua asked, turning around. Vanitas had mentioned something like that during their picnic. The Dwarf Woodlands were also down here in the Realm of Darkness, so if the mirror could take them there, they'd be halfway out of the Dark World!

Hope flooded her veins and Aqua eagerly hastened towards Vanitas, stepping over the zodiac ring. As soon as her foot touched down on the center star, she knew something was terribly wrong.

The twelve sigils of the zodiac simultaneously lit up, all glowing a bright, unearthly blue. An icy chill hit the air as three of the mirrors flew from their pavilions and surrounded her, spinning insanely fast with their surfaces aglow with magic. The effect was dizzying, and Aqua felt as if all the warmth of her body had been suddenly sucked out.

She couldn't think through the fog clouding her mind; it was as if her memories were being tugged on, like loose strands of fabric unravelling from a blanket. This was… just like all those other times that she… couldn't… remember…

Van… Va… someone yelled her name, along with the sound of metal striking glass and the resulting smash. Had he attacked the mirrors with his Keyblade?

Wait… What's a Keyblade…?

It was something… someone… or some-thing… wanted… very… badly…

Something… that she should just give up. It barely worked for her, anyway…

The mirrors abruptly stopped circling and she was vaguely aware that they'd positioned themselves back on the walls of their pavilions, at least one of them having been shattered by… Well, he seemed familiar, but…

Aq… A… whoever she was swayed, feeling faint. There was a sort of… five-pointed pressure on her chest, preventing her from breathing properly, and the key-shaped object in her hand clattered to the floor. Before she could collapse however, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her, feverishly hot against her freezing skin.

"Aqua!" His voice was urgent, yet fading with every word. "Damn it! I'm sorry, I should've kno—"

Fretful golden eyes were the last thing she saw before darkness took her.


XXXXXXXXXXXXX


Vanitas would say he had no one to blame but himself, but that wasn't entirely true.

They had known the World Within might be a trap, yet despite their precautions they'd played right into the Phantom's hands; now once again Aqua was cold and lifeless in his arms. The last time she'd collapsed, Vanitas had been overwhelmed by fear and panic; now all he felt was pure, unbridled Rage.

I'm gonna kill it, he thought savagely, gritting his teeth as he raced back through the dungeons, cradling Aqua's limp form in his arms. I don't care if I can't touch it, I'll find a way to choke the life outta it, tear it to pieces with my bare hands!

"YOU HEAR ME, PHANTOM?!" Vanitas suddenly bellowed at the top of his lungs as he rushed up the spiral staircase two steps at a time. "I'm gonna make you fucking PAY!"

Whether the Phantom could hear him or not didn't matter. This promise of vengeance was to himself, and to Aqua. Red Hot Chilis of raging Fury and Wild Bruisers of animalistic Savagery roiled within his heart, but he held onto them; he wanted to feel this Anger, this Hatred towards the Dark entity that'd caused Aqua's suffering.

Because it was obvious, now. Before, Vanitas had feared he might've been unintentionally draining Aqua of her Light, and had hated himself for it. Then he'd assumed her ailment was due to the negative energies of the Dark World, and had blamed himself for not helping her leave sooner. But now it was clear; this was all the Phantom's fault!

BLEU!

Communicating with the Unversed over long distances wasn't easy, especially since he had no idea where the Flood even was. Still, Vanitas broadcasted his urgent thoughts as loudly as he could, ordering Bleu to gather as much soft bedding as he could carry and meet him in the dining hall.

Vanitas sprinted into said room, gently laying Aqua on the soft rug before lighting the fireplace with a quick burst of magic. He put an ear to her chest; her heartbeat was faint and her breathing was shallow.

Damn it. Damn it!

He turned at the sound of tiny feet skittering across the floor as Bleu entered the dining hall, a few small pillows gripped tightly between his pointy teeth. Vanitas hurriedly took a pillow and slipped it behind Aqua's head. Bleu whimpered and licked at her damp hair.

She looks like a princess, Vanitas thought hysterically. The way Aqua lay motionless with an eerily serene expression and her long blue hair splayed out across the pillow, resembled illustrations of Sleeping Beauty he'd seen in a fairytale book.

His hands curled into fists in his lap. What was he supposed to do, now? He'd been absolutely helpless last time, forced to wait until she'd woken up on her own. Was that really all he could do…? No, he had to try something.

Vanitas took several deep breaths, sharpening his anger into something he could use. He was in control of his own emotions now, and knew them well— knew that this righteous fury… was born from love.

Because he loved Aqua, with all his heart.

Focusing on that simple truth, Vanitas placed his hands over Aqua's chest, his palms glowing a brilliant, sparkling green. The spell swirled around her body, a shower of tiny glittering stars sinking into her skin. For the first time ever, Vanitas had cast a fully-fledged Curaga, and yet… Aqua didn't awaken.

A growl of frustration tore from his throat and he slammed his fist against the floor, leaving a crack in the stone. Somehow, he'd known it wouldn't work. Whatever the Phantom had done to her wasn't an injury, so no amount of healing magic was going to fix it. What he needed was a miracle.

A miracle…

'Prince Florian was able to awaken her with a true love's kiss. It was like a miracle.'

The breath caught in his throat. Was that it? A kiss? From her… true love?

Vanitas licked his suddenly dry lips. He wasn't supposed to kiss Aqua, not until he'd figured out why he'd felt such an intense urge to do… something to her, and he wasn't a prince, either. But… this was a matter of life and death.

Sweeping his fears to the back of his mind, Vanitas slowly leaned down until his lips lightly brushed against hers— not a full kiss, but close enough.

Aqua stirred feebly before abruptly bolting upright, nearly knocking their skulls together. "The mirrors!" she gasped franticly.

Vanitas gave a startled grunt, torn between amazement and alarm.

That actually worked?!

Aqua blinked, looking around in surprise. As soon as she met his gaze, her face fell. "…I fainted again, didn't I."

"Yeah…" he breathed, watching as a little color began returning to her cheeks. That was… good, wasn't it?

Aqua let out a long, exasperated sigh before struggling to her feet.

"Here," Vanitas said, offering a hand. "Are you…?"

"I'm alright, but I need to check something in the library; I've just realized something important. Could you go start dinner, please?"

"Aqua, you need to take it ea—"

"No arguing!" she said sharply, before her expression softened. "Please, Van? Just… start dinner, for me."

Vanitas winced. He knew she wasn't angry at him, but her tone still stung. "…I'm not about to leave you alone with that Phantom lurking around— not without protection, at least."

"Van…"

He shook his head at her mild protest and allowed the feral Rage he'd been holding back to manifest as a troop of Wild Bruisers. One of the simian Unversed protectively nuzzled Aqua's hair, and she reached up to scratch behind its pointy ears. Bleu jumped up to perch on her shoulder, chittering softly.

"Thank you," she murmured. "And… please don't worry about me."

That was harder said than done. Much, much harder…

The two of them parted ways, Aqua escorted by the Unversed while Vanitas headed for the kitchen. There, he threw together a quick supper, going through the motions as he half-heartedly sliced some potatoes and stirred together a thick Merry Dairy cream sauce on the stove.

His mind was still stuck on the World Within, specifically on the magic mirrors. While most had contained empty rooms —and he was pretty sure he'd smashed the one that held the treasure vault— one mirror in particular was extremely promising.

When he'd peered into it, he had seen a long, dark tunnel filled with glittering gemstones— identical to the mine the Seven Dwarfs had carved into the mountainside near their Woodlands. If Aqua's theory was correct, that mirror could be the way out of the Castle of Dreams. Sure, it'd just open into another region of the Dark World, but at least that would give them the chance to escape this Realm entirely.

Honestly, Vanitas wasn't sure whether to feel guilt or relief at the possibility of a second escape option. He'd completely failed at summoning a Keyblade Glider —much to his humiliation— and had underestimated just how dangerous the World Within could be; if he hadn't led Aqua right into the Phantom's trap, then she wouldn't have gotten hurt. Still, maybe this meant their trip to the dungeons wouldn't be for nothing…?

Vanitas finished the potato dish and set it in the oven. Figuring Aqua must've found whatever she was looking for by now, he headed for the library. There, Vanitas discovered —to his mild amusement— the Wild Bruisers dutifully standing guard on either side of the large oak doors. He knocked before entering.

Aqua was sitting on one of the fat red couches that surrounded the fireplace, pouring over several leather-bound books spread out on the cushions; Bleu was curled up in a plush chair nearby. She glanced up as Vanitas approached. "Oh hey, come sit." She patted an empty spot next to her.

"What've you found?" he inquired, plopping down.

"Not much. At least, nothing we didn't already know. Take a look." Aqua opened to the first page of one of the books, titled Through the Looking-Glass. An illustration depicted a young girl climbing through a mysterious mirror. "It's about a girl who enters another World—"

"Through a magic mirror, yeah," Vanitas finished for her, frowning thoughtfully. "So… you really think that's our ticket outta here, for sure?"

"I'm positive."

He swallowed apprehensively. "Aqua, listen… I wanna leave as much as you do, but we gotta be careful; the World Within is more dangerous than we— than I realized. That Phantom, the mirrors, your illness… They're all connected."

"I agree. And I think I know how." She fidgeted with the hem of her skirt. "Our first night here, I saw a vision of Ven. I'd thought it was a dream at first, but now I'm sure it was real."

"Yeah, I remember you telling me about that. Probably the Phantom trying to lure you in."

"Mhm, but there's more to it. Ven— I mean the Phantom, reached out like it was going to touch me, and I don't remember what happened next." Aqua shuddered, shaking her head. "All I know is every time I collapse, I feel this pressure in my chest, like a hand squeezing my heart. I don't know what sort of Dark magic the Phantom used on me, but it's been draining my energy in bursts ever since; that's why I keep fainting."

Okay, now that was worrisome.

"If it can affect us just like that, at any time, why hasn't it targeted me?" Vanitas asked, thinking fast. Could the Phantom have cast a similar binding spell on him while he wasn't aware?

Aqua leaned back on the cushions, lost in thought. "If I was to guess… It's because it's after my Light."

So, the Phantom had chosen Aqua because he didn't have any Light to steal? He supposed in some ways, it was a blessing; if Vanitas had been just anyone, a normal heart with a healthy amount of Light, then he'd be collapsing too.

"Although, I think it's after something else, too," she continued. "It wants something, but I've forgotten what, exactly. My memories keep getting all… muddled up, every time this happens. I forget who you are, or who I am…"

Vanitas straightened in alarm. "But—! You remember now, right?!"

Aqua held up a placating hand. "Yes, my memories always return right afterwards. But if this Phantom keeps messing with my mind and heart… Well, I fear it could get much worse."

"You need to stay away from that dungeon," he growled through gritted teeth. "Not until we figure out how to kill this thing." Maybe it was as simple as breaking all the magic mirrors? Although, that meant cutting off their only escape route…

"I don't think avoiding the World Within is going to stop it from draining my Light," she sighed. "It's clearly capable of doing it at a distance. But you're right, destroying the Phantom is probably the only way to break this curse."

"Then— What do you think its next move will be?" Vanitas asked, an icy pit of dread forming in his stomach. Just how much time did they have before Aqua lost all her Light? Her scent didn't smell any different now, so thankfully it was being drained at a slower rate than what she could naturally replenish, but still…

"I don't know, but it seems very patient," Aqua mused, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "This entity we're dealing with is probably very old— ancient, even. I bet it's been waiting ages down here for someone to wander into its grasp, and it's probably willing to wait a little longer. Honestly there's no real reason for us to worry, yet."

He gaped at her in bewilderment.

"Van? What's wrong?"

"What's 'wrong'? Aqua I— You could've been killed! Or permanently lost all your memories, or be in a coma right now, so how can you be so calm?! I mean—" He nervously ran a hand through his hair, fingernails digging painfully into his scalp. "I'm such an idiot, I'd assumed the Phantom couldn't hurt you and led you straight to it!"

"Hey," she murmured gently, taking his other hand and caressing it with her thumb. "Seriously, Van. I feel fine. Never better, actually."

"Huh?!"

"What I mean is, this Phantom has been biding its time for months, so I don't think it'll mess with us again right away; we have plenty of time to strategize. More importantly, we know a lot more now than we did before; we're so close to finding a real solution to all this." She smiled warmly, blue eyes sparkling. "I finally have hope, again."

Vanitas gazed at her in wonder. Now this was one of the reasons he admired— no, loved Aqua so much— her unwavering courage even in the face of an unknown enemy.

"Yeah, me too," he said, squeezing her hand. "We're gonna get outta here, after we give that imposter the hell it deserves."

"We will. And I know we shouldn't assume too much about the Phantom or what it can do, but I can't allow myself to feel scared or fall into despair. Also, I should apologize for snapping at you earlier," she said, peering at him sincerely. "I was frustrated with myself for letting my guard down, and took it out on you."

"Thanks," Vanitas grinned, his heart already feeling much lighter. "And I'm sorry too, for what happened with my Keyblade."

"Your Keyblade?!" Aqua squeaked, immediately turning beet-red. "N-no that was my fault, I—"

"I meant the Glider!" he interrupted quickly, a pink flush creeping up his neck. His encounter with the Phantom had completely driven all thoughts of today's earlier… 'incident' out of his mind. "We'd be halfway outta the Dark World by now if I was any good at it."

"Oh! That." She somehow blushed an even deeper crimson. "Well, we don't have to bother with Gliders, anymore."

"…Right," Vanitas winced. At least his failure at the Formchange wouldn't be a problem.

"That's not what I meant!" Aqua exclaimed, clapping a hand over her mouth. "Light, that came out wrong; I know you're doing your best."

"No, no, I get it," he insisted. "You just wanna get outta here as fast as possible; so do I."

"I do," she agreed sheepishly, lowering her hand. "I know returning to the World Within will be risky since it's what the Phantom wants, but I have a really good feeling about that mirror."

"If that's what you think is best, I'll follow your lead," Vanitas nodded. "And—" He took a moment of consideration, before mustering up his confidence. "I'll keep practicing with the Glider, just in case."

Aqua blinked in surprise, before giving an encouraging smile. "Sounds good."

"Alright, that's settled. So, when do we leave?"

"Soon," she replied, determination shining in her eyes. "Very soon. We need to be prepared, though. I had a hard enough time fighting that evil spirit in Queen Grimhilde's mirror, and this Phantom is much more dangerous. I'll Synthesize some Hi-Potions since we're almost out again— Oh, and I should teach you Curaga, too."

"Actually…" Vanitas held out his hand; a flurry of glittering green sparkles burst to life and danced in the center of his palm. "I think I've got that one figured out."

Her eyes widened as the tiny sparks of magic dispersed into the air around them, twinkling like fireflies. "When did you learn that?"

He swallowed, heartbeat quickening with either nerves or excitement— he wasn't quite sure which. Was this the right time to tell her? And if not, when would it ever be…?

Vanitas knew he was no dashing knight nor noble prince, the kind that confessed their love to princesses and always got a happily ever after. He'd suffered more than his fair share of 'trauma' —loath as he was to call it that— and twisted thoughts pervaded his mind just a tad too often.

He had a feeling he'd always be a bit strange, that at least some parts of him were beyond repair, yet that was okay if Aqua didn't mind. She had tamed the monster in him, made him realize how human he truly was, and proven that a Beauty could love a Beast— even if only as a friend.

And, despite all his faults, Vanitas was a very honest person.

"You're just supposed to think of something positive, right? That's how healing magic works. Well…" He took a deep breath and steadily met her gaze. "I just thought about how much I love you."

Aqua froze. "C-come again?"

"I said, I love you."

Vanitas watched carefully as Aqua struggled for a moment, opening and closing her mouth several times. "…In what way?" she finally managed.

"Every way," he replied seriously, before faltering. "Or, the best way. Well, all the ways that matter, anyway."

At this, Aqua made an odd wheezing sound halfway between a laugh and a sob.

"It's true!" he protested. "I love your smile, and your cooking, and this Wayfinder you gave me." Vanitas unlooped the sparkling red charm from his belt, cradling it close to his chest. "You've got the strongest heart I know, Aqua. You've shown me so much kindness— even back when I didn't deserve it, and you believed in me even when I didn't believe in myself. I'd never imagined I'd be good at playing piano or art or chess. You've taught me so much about life— about living; you've made me a better person, made me feel human, and I can't thank you enough for that."

Another hiccupy giggle escaped her trembling lips.

"What's so funny?" How could he have possibly said something wrong, now of all times…?

"It's just…" Aqua wiped her eyes on the backs of her fingerless gloves. "This whole time, I've been so worried to tell you, and then you just say it out of the blue like that," she sniffled.

"Tell me what?"

"That I love you too, Van."

For a moment, it felt like time had stopped. One heartbeat passed, then two, before Vanitas found his voice.

"You—! You do?" he asked, stunned.

"Of course I do, silly!" she grinned, eyes glimmering with fresh tears. "You've protected me this entire time, and not just from the Heartless. You're so brave and witty and amazingly intelligent, and you opened my eyes when I was being so stubborn. All the days we've spent cooking together and playing games, every laugh we've shared, every compliment you've given me… They've always cheered me up when I felt so lost. Everything you've done for me has kept me from despair, and more than that… I just love being with you, Vanitas; I can't imagine life without you."

He was momentarily thunderstruck before elation swelled in his chest, his heart feeling fit to burst.

Aqua loved him; she really did love him!

"When did you know you were in love with me?" Vanitas asked eagerly. Now that the truth was out, he yearned to know every detail.

She smiled bashfully. "I think I've been in love with you for a while, but I only just realized it the other day. It was such a silly, simple thing. I heard you singing, and I just… knew."

"Oh." He looked away in embarrassment. "Sorry you had to hear that."

"No, Van. I liked hearing you sing."

"But your voice is so beautiful, and mine's…"

"It's beautiful to me."

Vanitas ducked his head even as warmth blossomed in his heart. "Th-thanks…"

"You're very welcome," she beamed. "So… when did you know? That you love me, I mean?"

"When you kissed me at my birthday party," he answered easily, straightening up.

"Oh!" Aqua blushed, suddenly looking anywhere but him. "Would… would you like to do that, again?"

"Would I like to… what?" he asked, although he already knew the answer.

She brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead and twisted it around her finger before giving him a shy glance, eyelashes fluttering. "You know… kiss. For real, this time."

Vanitas stilled. That burning urge to devour her was still inside him, buried deep for the time being. But if it ever got out…

"Unless, you don't want to?" Aqua asked hesitantly.

"No, I do! I'm just…"

"Nervous?"

"Something like that, yeah."

She took a moment of deliberation. "…Here, close your eyes."

He did so, and Aqua gently cupped his face in her hands. His heartbeat quickened as her weight shifted on the couch, slowly drawing nearer. Aqua paused for a moment, her warm breath tickling his nose before she timidly pressed her pillowy lips onto his.

Instantly all apprehension was swept aside as his mind was filled with pure bliss. It felt like he was floating away on a current of warm air, free and light as a blackbird. Aqua's lips were so soft and sweet and inviting, her kiss tender and as pure as her Light. Once again that bubbly feeling arose in his chest, though it was quickly overwhelmed by a much more primal emotion.

Allowing his instincts to take over, Vanitas hungrily pushed forwards and deepened the kiss, sliding his hands around her waist as he pulled her in close. Aqua gave a muffled gasp of surprise before melting into him with a moan, tangling her fingers in his hair. Vanitas wanted so badly to pour all his love and passion into her, to make her a part of him…

Recognizing the danger in such thoughts, he drew back just enough to break off their kiss. Aqua leaned into him with a sigh, embracing him so tightly he could feel her heartbeat even through the fabric of their clothes. His Darkness and her Light slowly swirled around each other in a familiar dance, and a sense of peaceful belonging settled between them.

Eventually they pulled apart, still a little breathless as they gazed into each other's eyes. This close, he could count the tiny flecks of purple in her deep blue irises.

"Was that too much?" Vanitas asked apologetically. He had no idea what a proper kiss was supposed to be like, and between that and keeping his worst desires at bay—

"It was perfect," Aqua declared sincerely, interrupting his swirling thoughts.

Vanitas breathed a sigh of relief, leaning back to get a better look at her flushed face. She looked absolutely starstruck and as dazed as he felt. Her hair was mildly disheveled and her usually pink lips were puffy and red; Vanitas had to resist the urge to dive in for a second kiss.

"Why were you so worried to tell me your feelings, before?" he asked curiously.

"Well…" Aqua took a moment to compose herself, smoothing down her skirt. "Love is… complicated."

Vanitas tilted his head. "Does it have to be?"

She blinked in surprise, her lips parted slightly, but then smiled. "No, I suppose not."

Beside them, Bleu suddenly gave a huge yawn, showing off his tiny white fangs. The blue Flood stood up and stretched, the star-shaped charm on his collar tinkling. In one graceful movement he leapt from the chair he'd been sleeping in and alighted right between them… only to start licking at Aqua's face like a dog.

"Hey!" Vanitas protested, pulling the wriggling Unversed off her and restraining him in his lap.

"I guess he wanted a kiss too," Aqua giggled, wiping her chin.

"Absolutely not," Vanitas scowled, shooting Bleu a warning glare. The Flood squinted his red eyes and began purring loudly, looking far too smug for his own good.

"Come on, let's check on dinner," Aqua suggested, rising to her feet. "…You did start it, right?"

"Of course!" he balked at her slightly patronizing tone. "I made creamy potatoes."

"Oh? Sounds delicious!" she said eagerly, and headed for the oak doors.

Vanitas quickly stood and dumped Bleu on a nearby pillow to catch up with her. "Hey, Aqua?" He placed a hand on her shoulder and she turned, tilting her head quizzically. "…We're gonna make it through this, alright?"

She gave him a tender look, her gorgeous blue eyes sparkling brightly in the candlelight. "I know we will. Together."


Thanks for reading!

Finally, the plot progresses! It feels like I've been writing nothing but fluff for a while, not that that's a bad thing. X'3 Also, can you believe it took this long for Aqua to learn the name of Vanitas's Keyblade?! XD

Anyway, I finally watched Attack on Titan and holy shit it's an absolute masterpiece, the story, characters, animation, music, everything! Seriously go check it out if you haven't already, it's my number one favorite anime! I'm kinda obsessed with it lol, might write a fic sometime :D Not gonna lie, I think I was influenced by Eremika while writing this chapter; Eren and Mikasa have that same feral guy/serious girl dynamic that I love in Vanqua, hehe. X3