AN: Lol, content warning for some serious, adult sexual tension in the last section of the chapter. xD That is all. :D Yeah we are going to visit Aqua again, and I am going to delve more into her stuffs. :D Haven't checked in on her in like two or three chapters. It's been too long already!

End of AN!

Xion sat in the cockpit of the Gummiship, in the chair next to Sora.

Sora was in the captain's chair, in the middle. There was a third chair, on the other side of him, where Ven was sitting, with his hands behind his head. There was a row of three empty chairs in the back too, where the ladder was that led down into the cargo bay (which was full of boxes of potions and foods, filled up by Cid a while ago).

After going home and telling their parents what they were going to do (dad had been upset, but he'd said yes - that she was like Kairi, and he believed in her to go find Riku), Terra had opened a large portal for the ship to go through, into the Ocean Between.

Ven had said he wanted to go with them. Sora had agreed immediately, with a happy look. Terra had said it was probably smarter to have Ven with them, at least, since he was more "capable".

Now they were out there in the space between worlds.

It was huge and stretched out in all directions.

There were stars and colors, and big floating objects and rocks and buildings and strange crystals several times bigger than the Gummiship.

"Where do we...even start?" Xion said hesitantly.

Sora looked over at her with a frown. He looked forward again, crossing his arms. He sat back in his chair, tilting his head back with a hum. Then- "I got nothing," he sighed, dropping his arms and falling forward.

"Hey, he's your best friend. Wherever he is, you've just gotta follow the connection between your Hearts, and it'll show you the way," Ven said encouragingly. "Trust in it, Sora. Like you always do. It'll show you to him - like it did me, when I needed it most..."

Sora glanced at Ven. He nodded, then grinned. "Yeah...thanks, Ven! Okay then..."

He grabbed the controls and sent the ship flying forward on its booster engines.

"We'll find you, Riku - no matter what!"

Riku slashed the Keyblade through the air, tearing through and disintegrating a Soldier Heartless.

He turned and grew dark energy in his palm, crackling with electricity, and unleashed a blast of Dark Firaga. It struck the Large Body and sent it flying backwards. He leapt up into a forward flip, coming down with a blade swathed in darkness and fires, slashing down through the Large Body and crashing his weapon onto the ground. The shockwave of dark energy and bursts of lightning traveled outward, obliterating the surrounding enemies.

A Neoshadow lunged at him from behind, claws swiping with dark flames.

He dodged it without looking, just sensing and then kicking off into a gliding sidestep. He spun around and jumped up into the air, then hurled his blade down at it - along with a barrage of dark energy copies trailing in its wake.

He dropped to the ground again, breathing heavily. He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.

He really should have been taking Kairi and Sora up on those sparring sessions more often - and not half-assing it with Terra, over in Land of Departure, either...

All these weeks spent sitting around, neglecting it all - himself - had had some consequences...

That was fine, though, right? He could tough it out. He deserved to have to tough it out...

This wasn't supposed to just be easy - right?

Still...first world he came to after crashing in that jungle, and he'd been set on by Heartless like this?

Or were they already here?

And what did that mean? That there was somebody else out there, like Maleficent, and Xehanort...? Someone causing pain - suffering - hurt?

Someone who needed taking down?

Riku wasn't Kairi, or Sora, or Terra...but if that was the case, he was going to do what he could, with what he had. Just the darkness in his Heart, Master Aqua's Keyblade, and this sense training of Terra's...

It wasn't enough. It couldn't possibly be enough.

But he'd do it anyways.

Because he had to.

He needed to.

He let his weapon vanish, sensing no more Heartless around. No more darkness...except what was in his own Heart.

"Right...now what?"

Maybe he should actually stick around here - do a little investigating? It might lead him to whoever was responsible for those Heartless.

Okay. Smart idea. The smartest you've had in a while...

Riku reached out with his senses, feeling the world around him...further and further out, and out...

Distant lights. Hearts. People.

He turned and set off in the right direction.

Aqua sat on the desert cliff, her back to a large boulder. She gazed out at the stars, at the moon, full and bright in the distance.

She sighed, shaking her head to herself. She looked over to where Natsumi was sleeping - in her human form.

She stood, turning her back to the cliff's edge. Her eyes found the special place in this endless heat and dirt: a little oasis, surrounded by rocky pillars and a jagged ceiling, set into the recesses of a mountain's peak. Greenery surrounded it, small plants and flowers. Two trees stood tall in this small haven, with fist-sized green fruits growing on their branches.

After all this traveling lately in this region - and after the other day in particular - Aqua was...incredibly grateful for this place.

She eyed Natsumi again, letting out a breath. Then she shed her cloak and strode for the deep, clear pool of water. She stepped into it. As she moved further in, the floor grew steeper, and the water, deeper. By the time she'd reached the center, it was well past her midsection. About level with the top of her abdomen, actually...

It was also cold. Very cold.

Aqua raised a hand of flames and plunged it into the waters, focusing. The orange magical flames pulsed, the light radiated in the dark, brighter and brighter - and the warmth began to spread, until the entire pool was a nice, tolerable, hot temperature. She smiled to herself as she watched the steam rise, extinguishing the magic around her hand. It had now gone from a frigid pool to a veritable hot spring!

She looked over at the other woman again, hesitating. Then she set her mouth and gathered her courage. She reached for the center of her outfit, undoing the clasps for the straps, and letting them fall. She removed her corset, then, the sleeves on her arms. She untied the strips of cloth wound around her waist, hanging down from her hips. She set it all aside on water's edge. She reached up behind her head, pushing away her hair to undo the halterneck. Then went her shoes and leggings, and her gloves. Lastly, she peeled off the bodysuit itself, throwing it aside and sinking down into the water a foot or so more, until it was up to her neck.

She leaned back, lifting her legs to let herself float, closing her eyes.

After all this traveling, all this dirt and dust everywhere...after the other day...

She'd needed this.

A routine consisting of a pass-over with a water sphere and a drying flame wasn't nearly as effective as an actual bathing session. Nor did it feel even half as good...

She breathed in and out, losing herself to it. Just...drifting...

It really was wonderful...

She didn't know or care how much time passed her by like this, or-

"Well, that looks lovely."

Aqua startled, eyes snapping open, her arms flailing. She caught sight of Natsumi, standing on the edge of the water, and dropped down into it completely with a splash. She held her breath, fully submerged in the warmth and waters. She wrapped her arms around herself, then reached up to pull at her hair-

She let out a breath, bubbles streaming up, yanking her arms back down again sharply. She shook her head to herself, then slowly...slowly let herself float back up again - letting her head pop back up out of the water's surface only. She blinked and swiped at her eyes, finding Natsumi again.

Right where she'd left her.

Right. Of course she is.

Aqua stared at the woman, grateful for the dark of night.

Natsumi stared back at her, her red eyes glinting under star and moonlight.

"I didn't mean to interrupt anything," the woman spoke again, in casual, light tones. "That was a wonderful little idea; I should have thought of it, myself..."

"Oh- no- you didn't- I was just...washing up," Aqua said, stammering.

"Would you be all right with my joining you in there?"

"W-what?"

"Oh, never mind, then. Only, there's plenty of room in that water - enough for a party...if only we had people to party with..."

"Um..." Aqua stared around her. The water was deep and wide enough to have fit...over a good dozen, if it had wanted to. Maybe even two dozen. And she supposed...it wasn't like they were going to be right next to each other. And...well, it really was just a hot spring, and hot springs usually had other people in them, and that was completely ordinary and...something a normal, experienced woman wouldn't panic about. Because there was no- no reason to panic! And she'd be being incredibly rude and selfish to just say no, you cannot share this incredibly large and wonderfully warm pool of water with me - all of one person...

"Okay," she finally said, subdued.

"Okay?"

"Yes - I wouldn't mind- it's a large pool..." Aqua clarified, feeling her face heating up. And it wasn't the steam. Why did this keep happening? What happened to years of training and composure...? Why did it all just seem to vanish, around this woman? It just left her feeling like some lost girl again...

Natsumi nodded, and she moved in the dark. She strode forward into the shallows, as her arms moved to pull away and shrug off her kimono...

Oh! She- literally isn't wearing anything under that...oh...

The other woman drifted forward, deeper and deeper, closer and closer, until she was at the lowest point with Aqua. She dipped down into it and tilted backwards, her long, shining dark hair pooling around her like a spider's web, strands glistening and spreading out in all directions...

Aqua glanced away, staring off into the distance.

Silence came over the pool. Minutes of silence.

Aqua, at some point, found it in herself to return to her previous state, leaning back, herself, floating again, and closing her eyes. She set her arms across her chest this time, however, in an impulse of self-consciousness. It wasn't as if she- cared or anything that- Natsumi's were- probably bigger from what she'd glimpsed under starlight- that had nothing to do with anything! It was just...

"So, can I ask why The Lost Princess of Zitol really went missing twenty years ago, or would that be too much?" came the drifting, soft voice of the other woman.

Aqua opened her eyes, breathing out. she looked up at the stars, focusing on them alone...

"I..." she started, but stopped herself.

"Mmm...then could I ask why she's so desperate to return after all this time - particularly when she doesn't seem to have very fond memories of that part of her life?"

Aqua froze. She gasped softly, inhaling warm steam. She drifted upright again, staring across the water to Natsumi.

The other woman righted herself as well, gazing back at Aqua.

"I thought you didn't read all that much of my life?" Aqua said, unable to help the sharp tone of accusation.

Natsumi just smiled, shaking her head. "It doesn't take a mind reader to connect some of those dots, Miss Aqua - especially after the other day. That's why I am genuinely curious...why you're making this journey at all. Why are you going back there? Is it really all for this Scarlet person? Was she someone you left behind - someone you hurt, or...someone lost, the same as you?"

Aqua looked away, pressing her lips together. She sighed, wrapping her arms around her chest beneath the water's surface. "I was the Princess, but...I never wanted to be..." she mumbled out. "Every step of the way, every single day, every- every lesson, every- stupid dress, or- customs and history and- it was a prison, for me! I spent every day in that castle, locked away, staring out the windows, wishing I could be like all the other children. Wanting to just run around and play, get lost, get hurt, get into trouble...do something silly, or stupid, and not be scolded for it. Not..." She stopped herself, taking in a quivering breath. She shut her eyes tight, screwing up her face. She clenched her fists, raised them up out of the water - and brought them down again, causing a great splash.

"I see..."

"It wasn't just that!" Aqua hissed out, her voice tight. Shaking. "It was...there was something I..." She opened her eyes, looking to the other woman. Fear pounded in her Heart. Anxiety. She drifted forward, closing the distance - and moving past. The water fell from Aqua's form, lower and lower, as she strode up out of it. She stopped when it was ankle deep. She held her arms over herself, turning slightly to look back at Natsumi. Natsumi...who was only gazing at her face, squarely. "I found out later - when I was seven. Almost eight - my birthday was only a few months away."

"What?" Natsumi asked, simple and quiet, turning around in the waters to face her fully again now.

Aqua looked down, away, her fingers toying with each other at chest height. "The complete, honest truth..." she whispered out. "You almost attacked me the other day, over what I kept from you. And if you're going to keep traveling with me on this journey, into this place, then...you're right. You deserve...the truth from me. So, I...I want to show you something. It's- the only other person still alive who knows the truth...is my Master. He helped me hide it, he kept it secret for me, for all these years. Everyone else who could have told anyone is dead," she finished, raw and biting. Biting...blood-

"I'm listening..."

"I'm not even sure what to think about it, after all this time. What to do about it. I don't know what it makes me, or- or who I even really am. I've just locked it away - threw away the key - and done my best to forget about it. To pretend I'm someone I'm not. Something...I'm not. But I can't...pretend anymore." Aqua turned to face Natsumi, and let one arm fall away. She held the other to the center of her chest, focusing her mind and magic...

A blue light glowed in her palm, a soft wind rose up around her...her body began to glow with a blue aura...

And then it all died away. It faded.

Aqua let her other arm drop to her side, and stared into Natsumi's face. Everything...bared.

The weight on her head now. The gentle hissing of water behind her back, superheated, like raindrops hitting a hot pan.

Natsumi slowly moved forward, emerging from the waters as well - standing with it around her knees. Her wide, scarlet eyes looked Aqua up and down, and all around... "Oh my goodness..." she whispered. She blinked, then she tilted her head to one side, giving a lopsided, soft smile. "Whoever gave you your name must have had a delightful sense of humor."

"The Queen of Zitol always said she gave me the name. If that was the only truth she ever really told me, then it's probably not the one I was actually born with," Aqua acknowledged quietly, hesitant. "Whatever that name was...I can't remember it."

"The queen that died twenty years ago now, if I'm not mistaken? The very same night that the Princess became the lost Princess?"

Aqua raised her chin, curling the fingers of her hands at her sides. A smirk grew on her lips, as emotions rose in her chest, tight and burning.

"Yes, that's right."

"Oh...so then, this journey of yours...is it your own mission of revenge?" Natsumi spoke, careful and quiet.

Aqua's lips relaxed, along with her fingers. She shook her head, regaining herself. "It's not revenge: I just want...the truth. And...I want to take that throne, and I want to use it to do what I want with it - not what they wanted."

"And what would that be, Miss Aqua?"

"I...I'm not sure," Aqua murmured, looking down. She crossed her arms over her chest again. "I just know...that I want to help children - people - like Scarlet. And...like me. And...you. Everything that's happened while I was away...the way that people treat each other...I want to try and put a stop to it. For- for all of you. And the only way to do that...is by being Princess Aqua Anfilia again. I'll be the Princess of Zitol if I have to - but I'll be it my way."

Natsumi gave a soft sigh, a contented, pleasing sound. She went to retrieve her kimono, pulling it on again and tying it off. Then she took up her sword again, held casually in hand, in its scabbard. She looked to Aqua with a gentle smile. "Then I'll happily continue on this journey with you, Miss Aqua." She paused. "Thank you...for being so honest with me tonight. I can't imagine how difficult it was for you." Another pause. A hesitation... "You say you don't know what this makes you, but I think I have a word that fits you quite nicely...and that word is adorable. At least among my kind, you have nothing to worry about. I hope you keep that in mind."

Aqua blushed, looking off to the horizon once more. To the stars and moon above. She could only manage a nod. "I- I should...change..." she whispered out, as shame and doubt rose up in her Heart.

"If you want that, of course," Natsumi said, striding off to the cliff's edge, where she sat down there with legs crossed.

Aqua gazed at the woman's back, then turned away, hurrying to collect her clothing.

She hesitated - then put a hand to her own chest, her palm glowing with a blue light...

She let out a sigh of relief when it was done.