Familiar a Gleam [Closed]

[Deleted]

I know you, I walked with you once upon  a dream I know you, that look in your eyes is so  familiar a gleam

Once Upon a Dream

And I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem but if I know you I know what you'll do You'll love me at once the way you did

I know you
I walked with you once upon a dream

She didn't walk; she ran. Her feet hitting the ground hard, and she could feel her steel toes bite in the earth. Tracking her would be easy with her imprints, but it mattered not. He was right behind her.

I know you,
The gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam

Looking back she saw it in the bog of darkness; blood red eyes gleamed at her. The red comets trailed with every rapid movement hunting her down.

And I know its true
That visions are seldom all they seem 
- - - - >

Right. 

< - - - -

Left.

- - - - >

Right.

<- - - -

Left.

She was practically zig-zagging. A loud smash made her yelp and instinctively dip her head to dodge. Claws raked against the tree she just passed. It was getting harder to breathe with every heave. Her mouth was too dry forcing raged coughing.

Come on. Think of something anything. Is it getting closer?

It would be foolish to look back, to take a glance, but she had to.

But if i know you
I know what you'll do

It wanted to drag her back into the abyss and claim her heart as a prize. She remembered those eyes and its size as it galloped on fours after her. She couldn't run forever; it told her that. Every world she went, it was always near prowling in the corners, in the shadows, and in the alleys. It was a predatorial guardian, who simply waited; he was the only one to devour her, and he made it a hobby to remind her of it.

You'll love me at once,
the way you did once

Today, I'll end this.

Slowing down, she twirled into a round off for she could face it. Her bright eye burned with the courage she had left. With a whip of her hand, a weight gradually rested in her grasp as The Battlefield of War gleamed with a purple glow. She swung as hard.

"Kurraka Faiga!"

In a flare of red, she had turned, struck, and saw nothing.

"It was just, just," a spell was wasted on, "a ghost."

upon a dream

"NO."

It was an on-going battle, being dictated my dreams and phantoms.

"NO!"

It was increasingly frustrating. The worlds or fate was working against as. As she ran from shadows, people kept triggering them, but as she pursues them, the shadows turn the tables and chase after her.

"It's toying with me," she threw the tachi into the ground with seething disdain. Flipping her head up to the canopies, she yelled. "YOU WON'T HAVE ME!"

She was losing it, running from nothing and screaming out loud aline in the woods of the Enchanted Dominion. She needed to pull herself together. Turning away, she marched in a general direction aimlessly to get away from embarrassment. A silent command fizzed the tachi into nothing as she walked further away from it.

I can't live like this.

---

Splash! Water. Descendent.

Bubbles drifted from her mouth
rising up to a bright light
above the washing waters of a black ocean.

With a heavy exhale, she wiped her face clean of water dripping down her face. During her silent tantrum, she found a creak; she slapped water in her face to regain her senses. Instead she got another glimpse into something, somewhere, a past. Groaning at the implications, she craddle herself at the riverbed with hands grasping her long blue hair.

"This isn't helping," as soon as she closed her eyes, she gripped her hair harder. The tighter her fingers curled the larger those black hands became.

It was looming over her head. It was going to crash over them
and the little light the other held.
They were going to drown in darkness.

She flinched hard and jolted herself up. Aotori sat up numb ignoring the droplets running down her face. She wasn't prepared for what happened then in that strange world. It was so dark and cold, trapped in endless night. It was raining, which was soothing with the gloomy clouds. The only lights were from the streetlights, the urban buildings, and the collection of static screens. That wraith of a forest didn't shook her up, but that heartless. It was tall and muscular with a heart-shaped hole in its body. It was coming for her too like the rest of the shadows.

"I still can't remember how I got there," she had accepted the episodes as they are, but she didn't appreciate the vulnerability of not knowing. It never set well with her, knowing she wasn't in control for a split second. She could've done anything or hurt anyone, "I should go back. At least there's a place for me."

The Underdome was a safe haven and a confinement. The only large beast present was Cerberus, and he was always nonchalant about her presence. It wasn't a home; if they could, the dead would leave it.  Yet the living, Aotori, would stay there; she could unleash her frustration and be slip out of control; it would be contained in the ring, and those who enters are aware of the risks. It made her victorious enough times to make her a favorite, but her episodes was a liability issue. She can't do recon and mingle with people if she was a ticking bomb. That's why he wanted to relieve her from her memories, dreams, whatever they were; she could have peace in mind and clarity even if it was ignorance.

"I don't think I'm meant to find her, " Maleficient, the fey he tasked her to find. She was the unreachable cure to her problem with the price of struggling.

Maybe I should stayed with Lightning.

Was she getting used to people to be susceptible for loneliness? Company would be nice, especially those that wouldn't ask to many questions. Lightning had asked, but she was aware of the lines. She could've trusted her with time or just entrust the fact she was a stranger she may never see again. She let the opportunity slip pass her.

"Maybe in another lifetime," the fort around her heart was solidifying. Humpty Dumpty was patching herself up.

[Deleted]

The past few weeks had taken an interesting turn for the likes of many, yet none could compare their own experiences to those who felt they had nothing to lose. For those who did however, a clock would relentlessly tick onward toward an inevitable fate. This stroke of destiny's hand was all the worlds needed to be brought to their unavoidable doom, and the sad thing about such a fact was that barely a single percent of the billions in the stars knew about it. Those that were aware, knew of a master tactician aiming to bring about another ancient war to the soils of the worlds. The great Master Yen Sid had tried his hardest to think several steps ahead of this man, yet the genius and cunning of the silver fox was unmatched. Pieces moved about the chess board with a sense of formidable unpredictability, and the aggression of the fox's forces was intimidating. They sought their quarry relentlessly, changing the tides of the struggle's waters with every action they made, every move perfectly calculated for success.

Seven of Light.

Thirteen of Dark.

It was a looming reminder of just what was to come, were these forces of the silver fox successful in all their endeavors. The newest wielders of the ancient weapon were cautious in their actions, hoping to anticipate some form of lead against their enemies. Any advantage would be welcomed by now, and no doubt it would put the mind of the Disney King and his allies at ease. Things appeared to be moving at a slowed, considerably unwelcome pace, for all it did was instill paranoia and anxiousness in the hearts of Sora, Riku and their friends. The mere thoughts that Xehanort was out among the worlds, along with other members of the Thirteen, was enough to provoke nightmares and uncertainty. The arrival of more recent news shook the foundation of Yen Sid's assurance in their plan, when an unexpected invitation to a Royal Grand Ball in Atlantica was brought to his desk by one of his brooms. It was a beacon to draw in many faces and hearts alike, though the old wizard feared the Princesses of Heart could possibly be among the attendance. A grim omen of a potential attack by the Organization.

Leagues away from the Mysterious Tower, more events began to unfold parallel to this Grand Ball. The streets and people of Cite de les Cloche had been driven to worldwide panic, fear and hatred at the hands of unknown assailants, who orchestrated a series of attacks on the city. Three unknown combatants faced off against each other soon after, with not many of the denizens knowing who came out victorious. Twilight Town had been struck violently by a group of villains, leaving the town in a ruined state of its former self. Men in black cloaks had been spotted in rare events, but their mysterious workings had been noticed by some. There was little means of denying that the war the silver fox was aiming to ignite, was already beginning.

A Corridor of Darkness opened within the grim woods of Enchanted Dominion, which gave way to a young man in a mask, with a black and red bodysuit. The dead soil crunched beneath his boots as he stepped out of the darkness, as the portal closed behind him. He stopped in the middle of a small clearing of dead trees before looking around at his surroundings, taking into account that there was no life to be seen whatsoever. After fighting Ventus in Castle Oblivion, then running into an ill behaved girl and her greatsword wielding friend, Vanitas decided it was time to do some recon. This world had been visited many times by his Unversed in the past, and so it became a prime choice of investigation. The memories and emotions they had tied to this world, allowed Vanitas to recall of a dark sorceress whom resided here. Unknown to him though, Xehanort had already sought out this fallen fairy, and enticed her with promises of power. It was she who had gathered the Princesses of Heart the first time, and revealed their identity to the forces of the silver fox. Vanitas wondered if this fairy that his Unversed remembered would be of any use to his own cause, and would possibly be interested in exchanging a favor for another.

The Dark Half knew that Ventus was nowhere strong enough to perform another union, and thereby recreate the X-Blade. Strengthening the blond and his abilities further, would in turn do the same for himself, and Vanitas knew this would work both ways with how they were connected. Light could not exist without Darkness, and vice versa, as the old man had always reminded him. It was something he knew would be a certain benefit, and if this Maleficent was powerful, then she would be able to help create some obstacles for Ventus. A few Unversed here, a couple hundred Heartless there, and with time they would be well on their way back to the Keyblade Graveyard. Vanitas would make damn sure of it too.

Swells were created from darkness near the Masked Boy's feet, which soon rose to take the form of a pair of Flood Unversed. They scurried around their master for a few moments, before they stopped to look up at him with bright red eyes. The opaque mask of the former Apprentice tilted down, his hidden gold eyes flickering between his underlings. "Scout." The command was issued and action was initiated as the blue creatures disappeared from sight, making motion to investigate the primal emotions that drove them. Vanitas, now alone in the clearing, took the time to tap into his own emotions. He sensed for any close traces of Ventus, but found nothing. There was no traces of his former Master to be found either, which was probably best for the Masked Boy at this point. The idea of submitting to the old coot's orders was utterly droll, especially now that he had been taking liberties with his own freedom now. There was no longer an authority of subjugate himself to, for now Vanitas was in charge, Vanitas was his own Master.

It wasn't long before the Flood brought back answers from their assignment, as they appeared before the Masked Boy. He looked at them for a moment, before the Flood became dark pools that soon joined the form of Vanitas through the earth. He turned his attention to the direction his underlings had indicated, where they spied a conflicted heart to be lying in wait. The development was intriguing to say the least, and Vanitas suspected any life in this desolate forest was sure to bear some connection to Maleficent. He began a steady walk through the dead limbs of the forest, drawing ever closer to the mysterious heart with each passing moment. Eventually the sound of water caught his ears, which told him he was getting close. The Flood had spied this figure nearby a creek, so perhaps this was what they meant. When Vanitas finally passed the treeline of the forest, his golden eyes set sights upon a girl sitting still across on the opposite bank of the water. Those eyes narrowed as he caught a good look of her face, for it was all too familiar a gleam to ignore. She seemed different, but despite the blue hair being longer than he remembered, there was little doubt this girl was the same from his memories.

Aqua.

Vanitas approached to stand silently on the bank opposite of the girl, and stared her down with the same annoyance, spite, and hatred he had held for her all these years. As much as he didn't want it to be true, Ventus had been right about one thing. While she probably never set foot in the Castle that day Vanitas fought his other half, it was possible that she was indeed the one who woke up the blond. Though judging from her appearance and attire, something told the Masked Boy that he was wrong to believe the white lie of his other half. This girl held a broken demeanor about her, and did not carry herself with the light that the former Aqua used to. Perhaps this was an entirely different girl, changed throughout a traumatic course of events to bring her to this point in time. It did not change how Vanitas felt about her though, and he doubt nothing ever would. They had been enemies since they first met, and would probably stay that way until Vanitas put her out of her misery. "So the idiot was right after all," he lied, merely using Ven's hollow words as an angle to target his direction of approach. "You're alive. That's too bad."

[Deleted]

Once upon a night

Yes, a different life time. Her predicament made her take several steps back from making a friend or staying near any prospects. Friends can lead to a family. A family could be nice and warm.

I dreamed we'd be together
in love forever

But someone like her can't be connected to people or any at all. It was ironic; she suited the Underworld, but she knew there was better. She could feel it in the air when she first resurfaced in the realm of the living. The Coliseum was a breath of fresh air, crisp clean air, and sunlight. A little glimmer in her wanted more, but she accepted she couldn't. She could potential destroy a budding happiness, hope. Despite how rude she was at the beginning, Lightning's presence was refreshing; it felt judgement free and forgiving. She could express anything on her terms even if it meant keeping a tight lid.

The warrior snorted imagining his reaction, her master of sorts. His hair would flare a hot blue in laughter.

Would he laugh at me?

Or would he be thrilled? He was always critical when she was aloof and anti sociable. She never goaded or responded to his charms. His little blue bird was deader than the dead. It would be poetic romantics if the god wanted a loyal companion who could hold a conversation, but his heart was just as twisted and tainted. Hers was always questionable. With her disposition, some would question if she had one or too fractured to function. But a heart must be there for her morality, which was troublesome for some plans. He wanted her to keep an eye on the wielder named Namine. Knowing him well, she knew he was a god to flick off as many pawns, knights, and rooks to leave the queen barren. It didn't set well to know she could've been asked to eliminate a child. A broken warrior she maybe, but not a predator on the juveniles.

He didn't like that then, and he wouldn't applaud at her shift in objectives. The gears were turning.

Once upon a night
I was wishing for a never
a never ending

She needed to reassess everything. Back there in the urban world was the first time she was drawn to uncover answers. Prior she wanted nothing to do with it. With a change in mind and her shadow on the hunt, she was at a standstill.

                                               What do I want?

Once upon a time

What do I need?                                        

                                           "A permanent clean slate..."

Once upon a night

                                                                                      "...can make me..."

Once upon a wish

                                                                "...whole again."

Once upon a dream.

Look myself in the mirror.

 
                                
                             

Being hallow was the only way she could cope with burdens. Still, where had she met them, the Darksides? There were so many down that endless winding road. What scared her most was her relinquishment. She gave up and granted them to devour her from the inside out. Be it premonition or a glimpse into her boggy past, it unnerved her. What could it mean?

She sighed knowing she wasn't getting anywhere now.

"I'm walking in circles..."

"So the idiot was right after all."

Snapping out of her thought, she focused on the voice finding someone or something. She stood to not be vulnerable to the enigma with the helmet. Was this all in her head again? She stared at him hard trying to look past the tinted visor. Was she looking towards a pair of eyes or blackness?

I know you
I danced with you
once upon a night

"You're alive. That's too bad."

"What," her frown of confusion stiffened to concern; she didn't admire the world choice. Who was he? With the twitching in her arm, she was becoming defensive. "Who spoke of me, and what do you want?"

Than we were wishing
this dance would
forever all time

Someone has been talking about her, and she didn't like it. She was supposed to be inconspicuous, unseen, and unheard. Fully restored, she was able to hold her drown as she observed the stranger up and down. There was nothing familiar.

[Deleted]

The moment was stressed with a lot of tension, and the silence that paired the slow flow of water only added to that intensity. The Dark Half took quiet breaths as he observed the reaction of the girl, still intrigued with her new appearance in contrast to what he remembered. As the blue haired warrior stood to confront her guest, Vanitas took into account that the only thing different about her was her hair and attire. She still bore the same height, a familiar posture, but there was a different air to the presence of Aqua's heart. No longer did it shine as brightly as it did all those years ago; no longer was there a wave of confidence radiating from her. That was perhaps one of the more intriguing characteristics he found about her, that unwavering will to right wrongs and make things right in the world. It was also perhaps one of the most annoying traits in his opinion.

He recalled several encounters with this girl from the past, during which he had always goaded her into a test of strength; a game of cat and mouse. Vanitas enjoyed to toy and play with her emotions almost as much as he did Ventus, and it was almost as rewarding, were it not for her lack of gullibility. Though in the end she was possibly just as responsible for ruining the creation of the X-Blade. She had fought against Ven's body while the two dueled inside the depths of the boy's heart, and were it not for the strain it put upon them, Vanitas was certain that he would have succeeded in overpowering his other half. Though he never found out what happened to this girl, this prized student of Xehanort's old friend Eraqus, for he receded back into the depths of his heart as it rejoined with Ventus, moments before they were both cast into the decade long slumber. There was little doubt that Xehanort would have simply allowed her to walk away from her deeds unhindered. Her appearance now could attest to a series of trials and suffering, a darker nature than what she had been accustomed to.

Vanitas could tell she was growing tense, even as she stared him down in the momentary silence between them. While some would find the sound of trickling water to be soothing, and perhaps comforting, there was a certainty that it only did the opposite in a situation such as this. A reunion of rivals, of a pair of individuals that had opposed one another for the entirety of their acquaintance. In the past they were bitter enemies, not just because of his former allegiance to Xehanort, but for his relentless hunting of her surrogate brother. Vanitas had to admit she had been awfully protective of the pathetic whelp, and was probably the one to do most of the fighting for the blond in the past. Though now here she was in this desolate forest, in a world that had long been subjugated to the influence of the darkness. The blue spellweaver never set foot in Castle Oblivion, and Vanitas was starting to realize that his hunch was right all along. The confusion plastered on Aotori's face was enough to account for that, as she didn't retort to him or even state his name in her usual defiant mannerism.

Her next play of words was enough to confirm this for him, as a smirk tugged at the corner of his hidden mouth. Already this was interesting beyond comparison, on top of how different and unusual the girl seemed to be behaving. Keen observation eyed the twitch in her arm, and the look of concern that evolved from the startled confusion moments prior. Vanitas was holding most of the cards at the moment, though neither party were aware of such a thing. Would a fight break out between them as history would repeat itself? An itch at the back of the Dark Half's mind was eager to test her strength after all these years, but the thirst for information of her alibi overpowered this. The curiosity regarding where she went after the Keyblade Graveyard was too great to ignore, and his priorities took the lead over his impulsive desires for the time being. The state of things in the worlds needed to be accounted for, but that task was soon drawing to a close. The next phase of his own plans would need to be addressed in due time; a trait inherited by example from the old man with his tactical cunning.

"I would have expected you to know the answer to that," he retorted, with a tone of sarcasm as he sought to mock her confusion. He looked to the silent sky above them, taking note of a single black raven that observed them from a perch on a high branch. Unknown to either of them, Diablo served as the eyes and ears of the dark fairy, and he had been dispatched to scout the forest for the time being. Vanitas chose to simply ignore the watchful bird as he returned his golden eyes to Aqua's blue spheres. "You weren't in the Castle, so I knew Ventus was lying the moment he said it. Though I suspected you were abroad for some time now." Vanitas took several steps forward as he came to the very edge of the water, shortening the distance between himself and his old enemy. "It was only a matter of time before I caught up to you," he added as the smirk beneath his helmet grew wider, and all the more sadistic. The only question now was what to do with her. Would he use the girl to fulfill a purpose? Would he simply draw his Keyblade and end her life here and now after all these years? That all depended on how Aotori chose to play her hand, for Vanitas didn't care either way.

[Deleted]

She didn't like not being in control, being in the dark. He spoke as if he knew her, yet her mind was blank. The bluebird wasn't sure whether to dismiss him or inquire. He glanced away to something else. Too suspicious, she followed his eyes on a bird. Not wanting to keep her eyes off of him for too long, she watched between them. Something was nipping at the back of her mind with an agitating buzz. She could feel a shudder ripple over her and couldn't put her finger on why. It was a double edge sword to be drawn, while feeling the ominous air.

I hope it's true
This vision is more
than what it seems

"You weren't in the castle," she could hear him faintly despite her mind being in another world. Cerulean eyes were back on him when he spoke a name. Where did she it before? It was on the tip of her tongue. 

She tested it out herself, a raspy voice saying, "Ventus."

She could see something, but the image was so faint and far.

cause if dreams come true

"You've no idea..."

It was barely a whisper.

                                                           "...how happy I am to finally see you."

                  see you.            see you.              see you.           see you.                    see you.                    see you.                see you.

                                see you.               see you.         see you.               see you.                    

                                                     "It was only a matter of time..."

"I've got so many questions, and so much..." 

                                                                                               "I caught up to..."
                                                                        "...to tell...." 

"you"

The last word in two different voices echoed in her ears. Resonating with the voices, a face appeared.

Her eyes lightened up in recognition. There was his face, "that boy, the boy in the Woodlands."

Coming back to reality, she looked to the gleam of the helmet, "I've met him before..."

If she couldn't remember how they met, something must have happened.

Curses.

Her gaze hardened. Cerulean became dark as the stray pieces came together. She didn't like the feed she was receiving.

                                I'm sorry...                                                                                       You have to remember me...

       ...we promised never to forget each other.                                                                          ...I can't help you find her...

                       Don't waste your tears for her on me.                                                           We promised. 

Seeing where this can go, she slackened her tension. She better get as far from as possible, "I don't know you, and I don't even know if I should. But if you know him, he didn't tell you."

He didn't tell him how he cried. Was he practically pleading? Trying to remember every precise detail and word only made her more uncomfortable. His sadness was torturing; every tear, the glassiness of his eyes, and the desperation in his voice stripped a layer away from her. It left her burning with scars she didn't want. His persistence was only salt in the wounds. Following the creek, she halted not even bothering to look back at him; it's not like she could see his face, " I'm not who you're looking for."

I know what we'll do

She could've cut off right there. She could've walked away, not look back, and keep the distance. Duty held her back; the bluenette had to know, "How was he, Ventus?" And who are you anyway?"

With a gentle turn, she had to peak through her hair to see his silhouette.

[Deleted]

Vanitas continued to observe Aotori as she once more became overcome with confusion, and took her sweet time to ponder a response, as though she was locked away in her own little world. Little did the Dark Half know that this was certainly the case, and that she was more than likely, not the same girl he had fought over ten years ago. While his hands remained at his sides, the fingers of his right hand continued to slowly curl and unfurl, as though they were itching to summon his Keyblade. Some desire inside him continued to swell; the impulsive emotions that wanted nothing more than to take up Void Gear, and cut down this girl that had created so much trouble for him in the past. He hated her with everything that he was, almost as much as he hated Xehanort, and hated the idea of being separated from Ventus. Though the Masked Boy was doing his best to contain these feelings, despite how much it would relieve the pent up frustration that would still dwell in him. Oh how much it would please Vanitas to drop Aqua's lifeless body at the feet of Ventus, and even more to see the look on the idiot's face when he did it.

Though he could see fully that she wasn't herself, no, this was not the girl whom he fought with time and time again. A perplexing confusion about his words seem to strike something within her, and perhaps she was over thinking it. Vanitas let a brow arch as she became consumed by this, before she looked back to him to give him an answer he didn't expect. She had met him before, but who was she referring to, Ventus or himself? That much was obvious, of course she had met them before. Vanitas lowered his brows into a scowl as irritation began to rise inside him, finding her lack of memory to be a sad excuse of a joke. Was the blue haired girl trying to play dumb with him? If that was the case then it wasn't working, and would only further to annoy the Masked Boy further. It wouldn't wind up in her favor in the end either, but would only result in the summoning of his Keyblade. Though Vanitas was trying to hold back, simply because he needed information out of her, information that could prove useful to tearing down Ven's misplaced confidence in himself. She mentioned the Woodlands, which he managed to catch, coming to a conclusion that the pair had met up on another world not far from here. For what it appeared, Ventus seemed to be right about his prior claim about meeting with Aqua, but Vanitas refused to believe that he was telling the truth that day in Castle Oblivion.

A coincidence perhaps? More than likely, but it wasn't relevant to dwell on at the moment. Vanitas continued to watch this unusual behavior she was displaying, even going as far as to mimic her steps, as he too walked alongside the creek to keep the distance constant. He didn't want this one escaping when he had her nearly in his grasp, and another week of searching through worlds was something he preferred to avoid if it was possible. The girl went on to state that she had never met Vanitas before, and expressed uncertainty regarding whether she should or not. The Masked Boy only gave a sickening laugh, finding this ruse of hers to be nothing more than pathetic. Whatever was going on with the former apprentice of Eraqus, Vanitas seemed to be enjoying it, as much as he was growing irritated with her. Maleficent's raven let out a very loud screech as it continued to perch upon its high vantage point, still watching the pair by the water with a keen set of eyes. Though Vanitas did not expect the bird to be the servant of the very force he had journeyed here to seek out. What was clear to the Dark Half however, was the fact that she did recall Ventus, despite her ignorance to the identity of the dark presence before her now.

In truth that was all he needed to confirm that this was indeed Aqua, despite whatever evidence he was already aware of in hindsight. The appearance and behavior wasn't fooling anyone here, and were Xehanort to look upon the girl, Vanitas was certain he would agree and confirm the identity to be truth. He decided to let her ruse of lacking knowledge about him go unpunished for the time being, curious to see how far she was willing to stage this act before growing tired of it. That was until he decided to beat her senseless, were the situation to come to violence. Though Vanitas would seek to challenge Aotori, and call her on the bluff of character she was portraying to him. He did know how to push her buttons like he did Ventus after all. When she inquired about Ven and his well being, the Masked Boy would do exactly that, and start to lay his metaphorical thumb on those buttons.

"I'll be the one asking the questions," he began with a hot retort, very reminiscent of what he had said to her before. "Though I can't say he put up much of a fight. He could barely stand." The statement was only half true, considering that as weak as Ventus had been, he managed to tap into some of his more stronger abilities before the end. Given they didn't have as much of a bite to them as they did fifteen years ago, the ruse Vanitas played on defeat wouldn't reveal that to the blond. After all, the more arrogance and pride he felt over a fight he believed to have won, the easier he would be to manipulate with such a grave mistake. It didn't change the fact that the boy resorted to his armor before Vanitas left, which usually meant kicking the battle into another gear. Though he exaggerated the truth, it wasn't as though Aqua was in any condition to tell the difference either way.

[Deleted]

The raven's caw was probing her; the black bird was beckoning the bluebird to recall, to remember. If it didn't feel familiar, she would've brushed it off, but the nagging was at the brink of her memory. He told her to look out for something to find her, the dragon lady, the fey. Did she have a familiar? Is that what she was thinking of? The Lost Girl couldn't work out the kinks; she still had company.

There was always a distraction, a thread, to tug her back; this one was Ventus, the boy who claimed to know her and linked her to a mashed shadow, who decided to follow her. If she was to follow the raven, the bluebird was flying in the wrong direction, but the bird was solitary by nature. She didn't want company or a flock. As she said before to a pink canary, her problems were her own. Blue and pink could've made a connection, and after her flight, she may seek her out, company worth having. But the crow before her was too antagonistic.

She found herself standing in the creek approaching him; all she saw in the plastic visor was her reflection. Piercing blues eyes stared back at her, while she tried to penetrate the hard surface to find his. Although the bluebird was lost in spirit and mind, she wasn't illiterate in reading eyes; they told so much. But the crow shielded himself from the gaze. He was hiding within anonymity. From bird to bird, she couldn't tell if it was sad or cowardly. What does he have to hide?

He hid his face; he hid his name; he hid his motive, yet he wanted something from her. One cannot expect to have if they do not give; it was unsettling and selfish. He stood above her on higher perch to evade vulnerability, and that what came with masks. Masks were protection, lies, and ill-comfort. With his ambiguous nature, there was no one to believe, no gravity; even his existence could be trickery. His words were shallow, so why would he badger her? Why was he here, and why berate her with a boy she hardly knew?

Still yielding to his words would mean doubting Ventus, and from the glimpses of him, she knew he had way too much spirit and means to fight.

                                     He cried before her.                                                                                                               He poured his heart out to her.

                                     His eyes were filled with longing and pain

                                                                                                                                          His voice first held so much excitement and happiness.

                                                      

                                                    He had so much to live for, and she can believe those eyes, the windows to his soul, far more than the enigma.

Ventus was fine; probably not in the fittest of circumstances, but fine. He was standing, searching, and continuing. She believed in that, his pursuit of happiness. It was richer than her standing, so hope was all she could give. If she ever found out he conduct ill-will on his precious head, who knows what may occur.

Standing in front of him, she was motivated by anger or loathing. She too was hallow, so only a wisp of curiosity pushed her. He was the one to ask the questions, he said. He thought he was in control, but he wasn't. The woman who stood before him wasn't this Aqua; Aotori was a woman of action over words. Naturally she didn't know how to say what ran through her mind.

She asked who he was, and he didn't comply. Perhaps, she would simply take.

                                    How comfortable was he with her standing this close?

                                                                                                        How long could he stay self-contained as her hands reached for the helmet?

                                    How much would she see when she grasped hold of it?

                                                                                                                                Would he slowly slip when her fingertips touch it?

                                    Would he retort and lash out before she could successfully pull it off?

We'll dance once again
The way we did then
upon a dream

                                                                                                  
                                            la       la    la
                                                  la      la     la
                                                                         la
                                                                             la
                                                                                 la           laaa    laaa    laaaa
                                                                                    laaa          la         la  

[Deleted]

Vanitas remained still as his words took their effect on the girl, while the soft sound of water trickling between them continued to keep the silence at bay. There were so many underlying emotions coursing through him at this moment, that he began to wonder how he would have handled this in the past. Were they really his own emotions? Or worse, did they belong to someone else? Ventus perhaps? Vanitas struggled to find an answer as to why his desires were being held back, why his inertia action to strike this girl down was being suppressed. For as long as he could remember, he had always found himself at odds with this best friend of Ventus. He loathed her, found her as annoying as the blond, and even borderline hated her to every degree. Nothing inside Vanitas wished to stop his Keyblade from unmaking every fabric of her being, and yet he couldn’t bring himself to take actions on those feelings. Instead he remained defensive, cautious of how and why the girl was behaving the way she was.

His taunts did little to toy with her emotions, and pushed less buttons than they probably would have in the past. His standoffish behavior had done little to provoke that pride inside her, and instead, there was a different air about her entire presence. There was no anger, no spite, but simply a flavor of silent caution. Vanitas was quickly becoming aggravated and confused, unsure how to handle who this girl had become, who this Aotori was. He only knew the name she carried in the past, but even any signs of that girl, were lost to the consuming enigma that carried on before him. He did not know this façade that carried the face of an enemy he used to know, who behaved as though they had never been against each other. The Masked Boy began to let his thoughts race, as a fist became tightened at the end of his left arm.

Vanitas thought hard about what the Master would have done in a similar situation, and how Xehanort would have played the opposition to his advantage. He came up short, with a loss of an answer on how to turn this awkward encounter to his own benefit. That was until it occurred to him that this amnesia could be a good thing, which created a devilish smirk on the hidden face once again. When the raven had made its call out to the emptied forest, Vanitas noticed that it had caught the girl’s attention. Though when she made motion towards him, the Progenitor of Unversed became frozen, rooted to the spot he stood upon. As the girl he once knew to be Aqua reached out towards his helmet, as though to remove it, Vanitas brought his hands up to seize her wrists. He would hold her arms in place firmly for but a few seconds, to let her know that he would not permit her to remove his helmet. It was a silent, and very unusual moment between each of them, for those few seconds Vanitas only stared into eyes that had become empty of memory. In that short, but seemingly prolonged moment, The Masked Boy came to realize that the Aqua he knew was no longer here. Vanitas released the wrists of the girl, and took a step back away from her to prevent a second attempt.

“The raven,” he spoke, hoping to change the focus of her attention. Vanitas then turned his head, and his sights, to rest upon the black feathered bird perched high on the dead branches. The bird regarded the masked youth, as it stared back at the boy before it gave out another cry. Before anything else could be said or done though, it took flight over the leafless canopy, heading in the direction of a pale moon that rose on the horizon. An ominous display of lightning flashed upon darkened clouds in the distance, toward where the bird had taken flight. “We will follow it” began Vanitas, as he returned his focus to Aotori. Without warning he turned to run after the bird, leaving the girl in her place whether she chose to follow him or not. Something told Vanitas that the bird was a clue to finding this Maleficent his Unversed had reported on; perhaps answers surrounding Aqua’s past would come to light as well.

[Deleted]

And if I know you
I'll know what you'll do

He was quick, and it amused her curiosity. The grip on her wrist loosened shortly, and the woman hardly saw it as a warning. It felt like a surprise. Did she stun him with simple innocent actions? Where was all of that fire, the taunting, and the baiting? It all extinguished and evaporated by her mere approach. Is this what poet wrote, a power of a woman? With a different perspective, he seemed so child-like; earlier he was so tense as if begging for a moment to strike, waiting for a reason for a tantrum or something more volatile. She would've been more cautious, but she felt unafraid as he passively slinked away. There was something about him and something she saw, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Now he unwittingly caught her undivided attention whatever that meant be it good or bad. There was a buzzing desire to unravel and dissect him to see the vulnerabilities and who he is.

Who was more dangerous to who now? With her heart locked away, some mannerisms changed; she could be so impersonal and invasive without a second thought. It wouldn't be the last time she pursue that mask.

The Raven wasn't as fetching now. The bluebird's looked at the Crow bemused. When did they become a "we"; she never traveled in a flock. The few times she had flown as a pair was always a temporary arrangement. Funny how she was quick to rebuttal a momentary union, while urged to keep tabs on the Crow. She hardly knew the Finch and the Crow, but it didn't take a genius to note the strain between them. Why would a Crow feign to hurt one so gentle? What did he had against him? It smelled personal. And what was her role amiss the chickens' coop? He was hiding something, and she wasn't going to figure it out if she let him slip away.

Unmotivated to run after the Raven, the Bluebird followed nonetheless to trail the Crow. Her eyes traced every detail of his frame to remember him; they strained to pick up any little insight that may escape.

He was pursuing the Raven. He was looking for something else other than her. Why was he looking for her, and how does he "thinks" he knows of her? Why was there strife between the Finch and the Crow, and why was a hesitant boy, who only felt security with control, want her to tag along? Was this a rouse and a lure, or was there something he wanted to show her?

Odd.

Lastly, there's the most elusive question of them all. Why did she care?

"What is with the raven?" She inquired. He wasn't the only one to ask questions. He'd already caved in answering one of her previous questions. At this rate, it was open game. She spoke to him like an equal; the bad blood had washed away on the Dark Meridian and faded into the black ocean, "It's been watching us for a while. I doubt you came to this world JUST to find me."