Chapter Text
Sora gasped as he saw his friends nervously waiting up ahead. "Guys! We're back!" He shouted. Ventus couldn't help but laugh at Sora's enthusiasm. Vanitas smiled at Sora. He looked forward at the group ahead of him. But as they turned around to face the trio plus Yozora, Vanitas felt the smile immediately leave his face.
He felt nervous as they approached. While some of them may not know who he was, he knew who everyone was. He had watched all of their adventures. Had laughed and mocked their friendships and had giggled and snacked while they were going through hardships. He could feel the stares that they were giving him. He quickly averted their eyes and instead chose to stare at the ground. Huh. He never knew grass could be so green. Even in the early morning light.
"Sora!" Vanitas heard Kairi and Riku shout followed by the sound of Aqua, Terra, Lariam, and Skuld worriedly hurrying over to Ventus. Vanitas lifted his head and was face to face with Aqua and Terra. He quickly averted his eyes. They could kill you. Don't get on their bad side. He had to quietly remind himself. While he may be free, everyone present kind of determined where he would end up.
"Where were you guys?! What happened?" Aqua asked nervously as she carefully cupped Ventus's cheeks. The blonde smiled but had to hold in an eye roll. He wasn't a kid. But he did like the physical affection. "We're alright Aqua. The X-blade is gone and everything is safe again." Ventus said with a reassuring grin.
Aqua clicked her tongue in displeasure as she examined his wounds. "Sure did put up quite the fight," Aqua muttered as her hands began to glow a bright, gentle green with a healing spell on the tip of her fingers. "Wait! Heal Vanitas first." Ventus said as he motioned to the unusually quiet boy by his side. Ventus had to admit it was a little worrying to see Vanitas so quiet. He was sure that as soon as he had seen Aqua or Terra, he would've tried to mock the two of them. Maybe it was because he was tired. Maybe the blood loss was finally getting to him. It was a miracle that whatever darkness powers he possessed kept him from dying so easily.
Aqua looked Vanitas up and down. An unreadable look on her face. Ventus was afraid that Aqua was simply going to ignore Vanitas when her hands began to glow again with a healing spell. "Sit him down so I can examine the worst of his wounds," Aqua instructed. Ventus nodded. He held in a pained groan as his wounds burned as he moved to set Vanitas down. Ventus sat down next to him. Exhaustion settled deep into his bones.
Aqua gently settled her hand on Vanitas's abdomen. The soft green glow burned brighter as the healing magic began to stitch up the wound and stop the bleeding. Aqua's hands gently moved to where the worst of Vanitas's wounds were and began to heal them. Donald had taken to healing Sora's wounds from off to the side.
Ventus let out a sigh. He felt himself relax as the quiet chatter became pleasant white noise and the soft green glow brought him comfort. They were safe. It was interrupted by a quiet voice. "Ventus." The blonde looked up to see Ava kneeling next to him. Her smile was kind. But Ventus could tell that there was something eating away at her. "Hello, Master Ava." Ventus greeted.
Ava smiled brighter. "I'm so glad that you're safe and alright. But, I do have to ask. Where's Luxu and the Master?"
At her words, Sora, Vanitas, and Ventus froze. Dread settled deep within their guts. The three of them knew that the Foretellers had a good relationship with their Master and their fellow apprentice. No matter what things the two of them may have done. But who was brave enough to break it to them that they had murdered their friend and Master?
But Ava was very perceptive and picked up on their behavior. Ventus watched as she took in an unsteady breath. "He's...he's gone...isn't he..." Ventus felt guilt seep into his heart. He did what needed to be done. Even though he didn't enjoy it. Before Ventus could speak up, Sora opened his mouth. "We're so sorry." He said quietly.
Ava's mouth slowly opened. But no words came from her mouth. She closed it and bit her bottom lip. Vanitas shrunk in on himself. This was all his fault. Just like everything else. This whole thing was all his fault. And it all started because he couldn't have endured Xehanort's abuse for a few more months. He just had to kill the old man. He couldn't have sat back and been the obedient dark monster that Xehanort had brought to life. No. He had to rebel. And because of him, people were dead. People always seemed to die because of him.
All because he wanted what Ventus had. He couldn't have kept his wishes to himself instead of actually trying to reach for them. It was his fault. Everything was his fault. The Master's and Xehanort's words resurfaced in his mind.
Pathetic creature.
Abomination with no hope of salvation.
Demon.
Monster.
Vanitas clenched his fists. Vanitas finally managed to zone back into what was going on. He heard someone sobbing. Ava. Vanitas looked up and saw Ava crying as Gula tried his hardest to console her and keep himself together. The other Foretellers appeared to be speechless at the loss of their Master and fellow apprentice. Sora and Ventus both looked so guilty. Vanitas stayed silent as Aqua continued to heal his wounds. She should've just let him bleed out. Because he was alive, other people died. Was his life really worth it? Was all this, worth it? He felt conflicted about everything.
But...Vanitas decided to keep his thoughts to himself. He didn't need people to hate him even more. He felt Unversed swirl deep within his gut, ready to be freed so he could express his emotions. But he pushed them down, making himself feel nauseous. He swallowed roughly and sighed quietly.
Vanitas looked up at Yozora. "Yozora." He spoke up, surprising everyone, considering his quietness before.
"Yes?"
"You...you know of the box, right?" Vanitas asked.
The teen nodded. Vanitas felt wrong for asking this. He had killed the Master's fiance. But...even he would admit that her body didn't deserve to be preserved in a box. "Bury her." He responded. A few people looked at him in horror at his statement. What did he mean by her? It was a box.
Yozora nodded and left to go retrieve the box and most likely bury her. Vanitas ignored the stares he was getting from some people as Aqua finished healing the rest of his major wounds. Aqua sighed. "I've managed to close and stop the bleeding of the major wounds. I would still recommend taking it easy." She said firmly before walking over to Ventus to begin healing him. Ventus gave Vanitas a reassuring smile. What he was reassuring him of, Vanitas wasn't sure.
But...it helped a tiny bit. But as Vanitas's gaze returned to the Foretellers who were mourning the loss of their Master and their friend, Vanitas couldn't help but feel something heavy and unsettling begin to settle in his gut.
He was going to have to face the consequences of his actions. Whether he wanted to or not. And it wasn't going to be fun at all.