#thewindywielder

[multif0rmed]

Words whispered into his ear, traces of their last major time together .. After such an argument, their interactions had been scattered, but they had never forgotten each other. A heavy sigh left Xehanort - as he continued to keep his hand there on the other's keyblade. Something pricked at his eyes ... He quickly blinked them away. Yellow hues flicked over to his right, hearing the boy's whimpers and crying. Fuck, good thing he had closed off majority of his heart, eh? He could feel the boy's emotions clear as day though ...

He swallowed thickly. There was that strange sensation within his stomach again .. Anxiety. Had he ..

Yes, there is some .. Regret.

Oh, he could just imagine the other's form right beside him. Smiling, black hair shining in the sunlight.

''... I miss you, old friend,'' he whispered, careful to keep the words towards himself. He wouldn't dare say the other set of words ; not while Ventus was here.

Eventually, the pair reached the resting place of Master Eraqus. Ventus quickly gave it a scan as they approached the Keyblade. All seemed to be well. Nothing was out of place. He'd made a habit of taking some time to go on his own to check on things in case Eraqus had any other visitors. It wouldn't be proper to have this place in anything other than perfect condition.

And so the boy watched quietly as Xehanort began to pay his respects, wanting to allow him to examine the Keyblade on his own. Ventus just looked at the weapon in the ground and took a shaky breath. He'd done his best when Terra, Aqua and himself came to visit together not to cry. He didn't know why, but he almost felt like it would take attention away from the other two being able to pay respects to their Master. But when he was on his own, he couldn't stop the tears from falling down his face. He would become so full of emotions looking at the Keyblade that he couldn't keep the tears back.

And now was no exception.

He bit back any kind of cry or sob as best he could, wanting Xehanort to be able to have the quiet and the peace he'd expect when visiting. He swallowed and stared on, letting the tears fall freely down his face.

[multif0rmed]

A little smile wiggled out sadly onto his face. At least he could afford to have some peace while next to the other, and them to have this moment of stillness in between. His expression, however, fell when the orange-haired boy had asked him that. ''It is ... the first time since everything had happened,'' he whispered, his yellow hues falling onto the keyblade. His fingers reached out, and slowly traced it.

''I had been busy .. or perhaps that is an excuse." He held back a laugh from tumbling out of him.

In an effort to keep the peace, Ventus allowed his old Master to take the lead and walk them to their destination. He was sure that if Terra or Aqua were here that things would play out very differently. Weapons would likely have been drawn and there may have been a fight that broke out. But Ventus didn't want that. Not where they were heading.

"...Not here, please," He said quietly. He didn't want this place to be anything other than peaceful or quiet. Master Eraqus deserved that much, "...Is this...your first time coming to see him?"

[multif0rmed]

''Sure ..'' he finally stated after a few moments of silence in between them. His boots crunched against the ground, as he led the way. He .. wouldn't mind the company, at very least, to have a way to keep his emotions in check as he visited Eraqus' grave.

''You see, not everything is about me causing the worlds harm,'' he muttered, just a hint of vulnerability appearing within his otherwise icy tone.

The boy kept his gaze laser focused on Xehanort as his old Master turned his head away. He knew just how quick the man could be. He remembered the graveyard. He remembered the ice...He was just about to call for his Keyblade when Xehanort turned his body down a path that led to...

"...Oh..." Ventus managed to put two and two together at last. This changed everything. Xehanort didn't come here to cause any havoc. He was here to pay respects.

"...Did...Did you want to go together?" He asked.

[futiledark]

He's sure he can't deter Ventus, even if he were to throw a fit right now. He wants to, but he's too aware of the Unversed broadcasting his real feelings as it now sits at Ventus feet - stupid thing, it acts like a cat that wants attention, love. The word seizes his chest, not even realizing when his keyblade forms and he stabs the thing into non-existence. A flicker of pain dances across him, never truly over the way it feels to kill a piece of himself over and over. And then he glances at Ventus and he almost snarls. "You really think someone - something - like me can have that? I can't, Ventus."

This time, there was no hiding for Vanitas, even underneath that mask of his. It made sense that he would be afraid of anything to do with the light, given who he was and everything that had happened with the two of them. He looked down at the Unversed that appeared from the masked boy's shadow, and Ventus couldn't help but make a face as it cried out. He didn't want it to be afraid. He didn't want either of them to be afraid.

"...We both know that isn't true," He said, putting that gentle smile back on his face, "I'll be right here with you. I won't let anything bad happen to you, or anything hurt you." He kept his hand outstretched for the other boy to take.

"I promise."

[futiledark]

There's a more obvious flinch this time, as if he's afraid of it. It pisses him off, that he can't stop himself from reacting, that for some reason, his body is scared of being touched by the light. An unversed peels from his shadow, and he doesn't pay it much mind - but then it cries out. It sounds as scared as he is, and he stares at it before looking back to Ventus. " - I don't - I don't deserve that." Is all he manages to say through ground teeth, swallowing thickly. Part of him wants to run, but he can't move.

The blond pursed his lips a little as the masked boy turned away from him. He could feel the anger in Vanitas' voice. It stung, but he was sure that was the point.

"I'm not trying to fix you, Vanitas," He said as he took a step forward, "You don't need fixing. Neither of us do. But you can't just be forced to go on, feeling the way you do. That isn't fair to you at all. Besides," He put a hand to his heart.

"I don't get a happy ending if you don't get a happy ending."

He slowly reached the hand over his chest out to the other boy, "I'd be careful. I promise. I wouldn't try to push too much light towards you...But you deserve to be happy. You deserve everything that I have. You deserve everything that I could have. It isn't fair that it was ever taken from either of us in the first place, but I'd like to try and give some of it back to you, if I can."

"Would you please let me try?"

[multif0rmed]

He suddenly remained silent, turning his head away. He'd have to elaborate ... No matter what. '' ... Fine,'' he whispered, turning into a certain direction towards Eraqus' grave.

''... you wanted to know,'' he muttered, carefully keeping his walls intact.

"...I would," Ventus nodded. He wasn't sure what to do. He could try to run for help, but by the time he was able to bring anyone back, Xehanort would be gone. No, he was on his own here. He'd need to stay with Xehanort on his own and try to figure out what the man was up to.

"So why don't we just skip the hints, and you show me?"

[futiledark]

He's not sure why but - the mere mention of it makes him flinch. Ventus can't see it, but he feels it all through his body. The light feels so foreign to him, the concept of it being given to him feels. He looks away, huffing in annoyance. Why is he acting like this? Like he cares? "Is fixing me really a priority for you?" There's a twinge of anger, the resentment building before he even realizes it. He's prone to it, forever. Just getting angry and reacting. He knows he's gonna start another fight like this, but he doesn't care. "Shouldn't you just be happy that you got your happy ending?"

"...Maybe..." The sound of pain in Vanitas' voice broke Ventus' heart. There had to be some way to help the other boy. Vanitas couldn't be expected to live the rest of his life like this. That wasn't fair. That wasn't okay.

"...But maybe not."

An idea formed in the boy's head, and he had to stop himself from smiling. If it worked, it might be able to help Vanitas a bit. He took a step towards the other boy, feeling a bit more confident in his plan as the seconds went by.

"Vanitas...What if I gave you some of my light?"

[multif0rmed]

'' ...Wouldn't you like to know? I could give you a hint, or many, but it wouldn't accomplish anything.''

"What are you doing here? What are you up to this time?"

[timetravelcr]

It was him. It was one of the several hims, of course, but he was reasonably certain it was only he in this moment in time, as he regarded Eraqus' apprentice... and the Keyblade.

And so Xehanort sighed.

"That is quite the escalation." He pointed out. "Do you really want to fight me?"

Of course, Xehanort did not summon his Keyblade. He would fight without it, as he often did, until he really needed it. Partly because he could, and was skilled enough to have other weapons... and partly because it tended to unnerve his opponents.

"..." The familiar sharpness in the response told Ventus everything he needed to know, "It is you..."

Wayward Wind appeared in his hand in a flash, and he gripped the hilt tightly, "I can't let you hurt anyone else. Not again. Not ever again."

[futiledark]

"Sadly, for both of us, you're the only one capable of that. Emotionally." There's a hint of amusement in his tone, and a lot of pain. "You and I both know that."

All Ventus could do was sigh at the response and look down at his feet.

"...There was a time where the whole point of my existence was to fight you too. I just feel tired of all the fighting, you know? I want us all to move on."

[timetravelcr]

"Am I?" Comes the answer, a question on itself. A shade too sharp, maybe, with a bit of fang thrown in. Oh, and the usual arrogance.

@timetravelcr

"...Are you...?"

[multif0rmed]

''Does it particularly surprise you, lad?''

@multif0rmed

"Master Xehanort...What are you doing here?"

[heartsandwishes]

oh, someone who recognizes them.. and someone who looks a lot like roxas, but he doesn't.. sound the same. or smell the same. they give an awkward little laugh. "Um! Nice to meet you, too, I think? I'm sorry, I don't think I know who you are.. Even though you look so much like one of my best friends.."

"It's strange," He smiled, "When I was sleeping, I could feel everyone Sora's heart touched. You seemed farther away, but you were always there," He placed hand over his chest for a moment, "It's nice to finally meet you properly, Xion."

[futiledark]

Vanitas folds his arms, eyeing Ventus for a few, silent moments. "...The whole point of my existence is to fight you. I don't think I really know how to do much else beyond that."

@futiledark

"Have you ever stopped and wished that we didn't have to fight?"

[valorxdrive]

"I'd say! Time really doesn't wanna be nice when you feel like doing things, huh Ven?"

Visiting old friends, handling things back at home, somehow it feels like what was once a luxury is spread so thin.

Ah well! Sora accepts that challenge too all the same.

"How's the Heartless hunts been going? Nothing too bad has been appearing on the radar, has it?"

@valorxdrive

"It's so good to see you again," He said with a big smile.

[wisemandrill]

"Yes, these are the Pride Lands," Rafiki answered, swinging down from the bough where she hung to land in the dried grass between the baobab's roots. "What brings a human like you to this part of the savannah?" she asked, curious. This human child was so very odd looking, and he seemed like perhaps he was a few bananas short of a bunch, given the manner in which he'd responded to her initial comment.

The Tree