Disclaimer: I do NOT own any part of Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, or the cover image in any way, shape or form. I own nothing!

The Sparrow and the Crow

Chapter 1

Bored. Vanitas is ten different kinds of bored. Like always, he sits towards the back of the classroom and listens to another dreadfully boring lecture, courtesy of Instructor No. 12, Aqua.

With a heavy and much too loud sigh, Vanitas props his feet on his study panel and folds his arms behind his head. One advantage to not sharing a study panel with another student is that he can recline without bothering anyone.

His intentional disturbance earns him a few curious glances from his fellow pupils and a nasty look from Aqua.

Vanitas returns the favor.

Bitch.

Once the young blue-haired Instructor manages to regain the attention of the class, Vanitas represses a groan. She is putting notes on the board, again. Too bad he 'forgot' to bring his notebook. Technically, he could just use the computer installed into the study panel, but that would require him giving a damn.

Since taking notes isn't a favorable option anymore, Vanitas could listen to the lecture. He could, but he won't. It isn't like it will do him any good anyway. The lecture is for those who actually want to graduate from this hellhole of an educational institution, those that want to be trained into becoming unique, specialized military forces, those that will actually reap the benefits of attending and graduating from this place.

Vanitas supposes he does want to graduate so he could be enlisted in an army anywhere in the world, but that isn't in the cards for him. If he does somehow manage to graduate, and he doesn't know that he will, he wouldn't be permitted to leave the Land of Departure's Academy of Mastery. He is pretty sure Headmaster Eraqus will rip him apart with his bare hands before he risks releasing him out into the world.

'We have to maintain the balance,' Vanitas mocks the demented and highly judgmental Headmaster in his head.

This place is his prison, nothing more, nothing less and everyone knows it. He isn't here to better himself or find his place in the world or to protect the balance or any sentimental crap like that. He is kept here as a precaution, under the watchful eye of the Masters and the Headmaster so he won't do anything he shouldn't. He is a damn liability. Actually, now that he thinks about it; that is putting it lightly. Saying he is a liability is an understatement.

Vanitas is on the verge of brooding himself into a coma, so he stops his thought process right there and tries to focus on his surroundings. However, focusing on his surroundings also means focusing on Aqua and he doesn't want to do that. He will bust a blood vessel.

Instead of listening to Instructor Aqua go over Academy protocol, again, he eyes his classmates.

They are all so sickeningly transparent. He doesn't interact with them on a personal level, but he does observe them. It is one of his favorite past times considering he isn't allowed to do much given the circumstances…

Ventus is playing nice with his study panel mate, Xion, and subtly flirting with her. The flirting is so subtle it is painfully obvious.

He rolls his glaring, golden eyes.

Brother dear has been in love with Xion for a while and he supposes he understands his brother's immature and completely illogical infatuation. After all, Xion is pretty much the only person in this damn academy that doesn't treat him like a monster. She never has. She has never been anything but kind to him and Vanitas doesn't understand that. Kindness is one of the many emotions that lie just beyond his reach and just outside his realm of comprehension.

Xion laughs at Ventus' pitiful jokes and smiles warmly at him across the study panel they share.

Vanitas is pretty sure she simply humors him. He doesn't think she actually gives a shit. She is just too nice to blow him off. She will get bored with him, eventually. She won't commit to the pushy boy. Vanitas likes to think she isn't into him that way, she just doesn't realize it yet.

Bored again, he averts his eyes and observes the individuals seated at the study panel to their left.

Naminé silently sketches in a sketchpad as she sits next to Riku. Vanitas smirks when he sees Naminé's blue eyes wander over to Ventus's study panel. The blonde girl likes Ventus but Ventus likes Xion but Vanitas doesn't know whom the hell Xion likes. She is kind of hard to read, but the point is Ventus is so wrapped up in trying to win over Xion he doesn't notice Namine's little crush.

This amuses Vanitas. He enjoys turmoil. He will admit it. He likes chaos and conflict, but why wouldn't he? He is anarchy incarnate. It is in his blood to enjoy such things. By design, he is wired to sow seeds of mayhem.

The tawny gaze shifts yet again.

Sora and Kairi are goofing off on the other side of the room. That is another messed up scenario, but this one isn't nearly as amusing.

Sora likes Kairi and Kairi likes Sora. Vanitas is pretty sure but Riku likes Kairi too. However, Vanitas is also pretty sure Riku could have a thing for Naminé and maybe even Xion, but Riku's affections for are unrequited regardless of who he wants and unrequited love is always somewhat amusing.

Vanitas looks at the back of Xion's coal-black head again and decides that unrequited love is not always amusing. It wouldn't be fun if it happened to him. Good thing Vanitas can't love…not really, but if he could…

He mentally slaps himself across the face for temporarily losing his mind and for being such a sentimental, adolescent dumb-ass.

He has trekked into dangerous territory so his golden gaze adjust to the morons sitting between him and Xion, Axel and Roxas, Xion's best friends. The girl clearly has no regard for taste. She likes his brothers and the freak with fire in his hair and tattoos on his face.

Axel throws paper wads at Xion and starts singing something along the lines of 'Ventus and Xion sitting in a tree.'

Xion blushes and throws the paper wads back at him. When she turns to throw her weapon made of vellum at the lanky redhead she catches him staring at her.

Vanitas stiffens when their eyes mate.

Much to his displeasure, Xion smiles at him. Instinctively, his eyes narrow at her as an intense glower consumes his face.

Her smile falls and she shies away from his smoldering gaze before she turns to face the front of the room again.

Aqua scolds Axel and Xion for throwing paper wads and begins lecturing again.

Boredom savagely devours Vanitas again and he seriously considers going to sleep, but going to sleep will only cause Aqua to chide him and he doesn't really feel like going through that. Besides, sleeping won't get him out of this room.

If Vanitas could self-destruct, he would.

Vanitas can't self-destruct, but he can leave.

Without a second thought, Vanitas gets out of his chair and makes a break for the door.

"Vanitas, you haven't been excused."

There's the haughty remark he was waiting for and the one he already knew he wouldn't heed the instant it left Aqua's lips.

"I know." he smirks during his response but doesn't stop his journey up the aisle of study panels to the door.

"Vanitas, sit back down," the azure Instructor warns and points to his panel at the back of the room.

Vanitas chortles.

"No. I'm good. Thanks," he opens the door and glances back at Aqua and the classroom.

He catches the look Xion is giving him and it pisses him off. The look on her face is somber and maybe a touch disappointed. It is strange expression. It's like she is disappointed in how rude he is being. Why would it surprise her? Why would she expect any different?

Idiot.

"Vanitas, if you leave you are going to Headmaster's office!" Aqua hisses and slams her hands on her desk.

Vanitas shoots her an obscene one-fingered hand gesture before he exits and slams the door.

When the lecture ends, the room is buzzing about Vanitas' behavior. Vanitas doesn't have class with other pupils much but when he does it is usually a memorable experience and this time was no different.

"I can't believe he just left like that…" Naminé squeaks as she rises from her seat and places her sketchpad into her baby blue backpack.

"I can." Ventus chuckles and politely helps Xion with her books.

"Thank you." Xion gives him a smile as she takes the tomes from him.

"Yeah, name one class meeting he didn't interrupt or disturb in some way." Riku folded his arms.

Naminé's eyes wander over the ceiling and the floor as she tries to remember a time when Vanitas actually stayed through an entire lecture without screaming or protesting or trying to argue with the Instructors about the validity of their lecture.

"Yeah… I got nothing…" she shrugs and pulls her backpack over her shoulder.

"Why don't they just kick him out?" Kairi asks as she joins the conversation.

"They can't. He will destroy the world if they do," Axel states and Xion can't tell if he is joking or if he is serious.

No one laughs so she assumes he is serious.

"Xion, can I see you for a moment?" Aqua asks over the soft chatter and the sounds of rustling books and backpacks.

The conversation deteriorates at the sound of Aqua's voice and the small group disperses.

"Want me to wait on you?" Ventus offers as he walks by Xion.

"No, it's fine. Go ahead. I'll see you later." she smiles meekly and her eyes shyly fall to the floor.

"Alright," he surrenders. "See ya, Aqua," he calls to his friend and playfully pats her desk before exiting with the other pupils.

"Bye, Ven."

"Yes?" Xion inquires as she tightly holds her books over her chest and ventures to the young Instructor's desk.

"I have a favor to ask," Aqua says as she rubs her aching temples. Xion is sure she is still nursing the headache Vanitas gave her.

"Anything." Xion smiles and places a lock of ebony behind one of her ears.

Aqua is an instructor, but she is still young and one of Xion's good friends so, once the instructor air dissolves, Xion talks to her as she normally would.

Aqua passed the Mark of Mastery exam and graduated at the age of fifteen, and at the age of eighteen became one of the youngest instructors ever.

The blue maiden is now twenty, only three years older than Xion, but because of her age she is less strict and struggles to be taken seriously be her students who also double as her classmates for years. Now Aqua is kept at a distance from her pupils because of her rank. Xion knows this upsets her and that she wants a better relationship with the people around her.

"Will you be willing to go on a mission for me?" Aqua pleads and this is clearly more of a request from a friend than an order from an Instructor.

Xion is a bit taken back by the request. Ususally, the Headmaster is the individual that assigns students to missions. Xion has been in Mastery Academies since she was a child so she wasn't new to the standard protocol. She is a student at an academy that trains students to be a mercenary force that completes missions all over the world so she has been on countless missions. However, this is the first time an Instructor has assigned one to her, but who is she to question her friend and Instructor?

"Sure." Xion nods and shifts the books in her arms.

Aqua exhales. "Thank you so much. I really appreciate it."

A knock interrupts Xion's reply and Aqua holds up a hand to momentarily stifle the raven-haired girl.

"Come in," the Instructor calls calmly and Xion can tell she already knows who waits on the other side of the door.

Terra enters the vacant classroom with a salad from the cafeteria and a bottle of water. The wholehearted smile that blossoms across Aqua's face at the sight of Terra is infectious. Xion can't help but grin at the burly brunette too.

"I brought you lunch." He holds up his offering as he approaches her desk.

"Hey, Xion," Terra adds and places the food on the desk in front of Aqua.

"Hi, Terra," Xion greets warmly. "How are you?"

"Pretty good," he replies before moving behind the desk to massage Aqua's obviously tense shoulders. "You?"

"I'm good. Thank you for asking."

"Anytime," he chuckles and pats Aqua's arms.

"I brought you pain killers too. I knew you had Vanitas in class today…" he continues after turning his attention back to Aqua.

Aqua's head hits her desk at the sound of Vanitas' name as Terra gently places the bottle of painkillers by her face.

"That bad, huh?" Terra inquires before casually placing his hands back in his pockets.

"He argued with her ever ten seconds then he left in the middle of class. Oh, and he gave her the one finger salute on his way out," Xion explains for Aqua since the Instructor seems content with keeping her forehead plastered to her desk.

"Nice," Terra chuckles.

"It's not funny…" Aqua mumbles into the paperwork she is using as a pillow.

"No. Of course not." Terra winks at Xion and she represses a giggle.

"Anyway!" Aqua's blue head pops up and she places a few loose strands of her short hair behind her ears. "Xion, I will set up a meeting with the Headmaster and you can see him after you are finished with your classes for the day. He will make the necessary changes and give you the details of the mission. I was going to go myself but I really don't have the time…"

"No! It's fine. I don't mind. Really," Xion insists.

"Thank you so much. I owe you one," Aqua says as she opens her salad's plastic container. "It shouldn't be anything too grueling. It shouldn't be more than you can handle. I'll set up your briefing with Headmaster Eraqus and he will tell you all that you need to know."

"Okay! Sounds good. Enjoy your lunch. It was good to see you, Terra," Xion says as she makes her way to the door.

"You too," the brunette smiles and sits on Aqua's desk.

"Thanks again, Xion," Aqua calls and opens her water bottle.

"Don't mention it," Xion says before shutting the door and leaving.

Xion is nervous. She is nervous and the screaming inside the Headmaster's office isn't helping.

She waits outside the office in the neat, little lobby on leather cushions, her hands elegantly entwined in her blackened lap. Her hands slip and slide all over one another as she tries to calm her nerves and ignore the yelling inside.

The raven-haired girl knows who is screaming inside. Vanitas is screaming profanities at Master Eraqus…again.

Xion winces.

Angry. He is always so angry.

Xion just came to receive the briefing for the mission she was going on for Aqua; she didn't come here to listen to the next Keyblade War unfold. However, she can kind of understand why Vanitas is pissed. His situation, while mysterious, isn't a complete secret.

"Vanitas, please, calm down…"

Master Eraqus sounds like he is at wit's end.

Xion wishes she could ignore all this. She doesn't want any of this gracing her ears. It is none of her business but they are so loud!

Things grow quieter after while but Xion can still hear the murmurs of angry bickering.

A door slams and the murmurs cease. Heavy footsteps sound inside the office then Vanitas barrels out of the door into the lobby.

At the sight of Xion he reels a bit, his golden eyes widen momentarily before narrowing back into their signature scowl.

In spite of his scowl, Xion offers him a small smile.

Xion notices he isn't in his Job attire nor is he in his Academy uniform. He boldly wears civilian clothing, a black hooded jacket with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, a white t-shirt underneath, and jeans.

As a student whom she assumes has a Job here as either a Warrior or Dark Knight, depending on the situation, he should be in either their gear or the school uniform… However, he isn't, but this doesn't surprise Xion. Vanitas is able to cheat the system. To keep him out of trouble and to keep him under their watchful eye, they let him get away with pretty much anything as long as he doesn't go running off into the Dark Realm…or to Master Xehanort…

"What?" he barks when he grows tired of the silence and the innocent look she is giving him.

"N-nothing!" she defends and holds her hands up in surrender.

"You wanna pass judgment too?"

"No."

Xion has no clue where all this is coming from. She has never offered to pass judgment on him. She understands what he is but she has never judged him for it.

Vanitas is a time bomb in more ways than one. His temper is one and he himself is the other. They say that he will make some weapon that will bring about war, ruination, or catastrophe or something… And that he will create and control a new breed of monster…

Xion doesn't know the gory details but she does know that Vanitas is rarely seen as anything other than a monster or a walking apocalypse waiting to happen.

His eyes wander over her cynically before they roll.

"Whatever," he scoffs before placing his hands in his pockets and disappearing out of the lobby.

"Sheesh, Xion. What did you do?" chuckles a familiar voice over Vanitas' fleeting footsteps.

Xion jumps and turns to see that it is Axel leaning against the wall beside her.

"N-nothing! I didn't do anything!" Xion squeaks as she looks back at him.

"Calm down." Axel chuckles some more. "I was only teasing. Like that guy needs a reason to be pissed…"

"He has plenty…" Xion adds as she tucks her stocking covered ankles behind one another underneath her seat.

"Are you taking up for him?" Axel practically gapes.

"Not necessarily." Xion shrugs and stares holes into the floor. "I just know he has a lot to deal with. You know, because of who he is?"

"You mean what he is?"

Xion wouldn't call Vanitas a what. He is still a person, although almost everyone in this school would say otherwise.

"Either way, he can't help what or who he is anymore than we can…"

"Humph. Sure." Axel shrugs and scratches his fiery head. "So! What are you doing here?"

"Briefing. I'm going on a mission in Aqua's place," Xion explains and gives Axel a quick smile.

"Big shoes to fill," Axel muses aloud and Xion nods.

He is right. Those shoes are all but impossible to fill. Not only is Aqua a Master and Graduate and the youngest Instructor at this facility, Aqua's Job classification is Sage while Xion is simply classified as a Black Mage, for now anyway. Aqua has all but mastered black and white magic. It takes both Naminé and Xion to do what Aqua can do alone, which is why Aqua is used so frequently. She is basically a Black and White Mage wrapped into one pretty package.

"So you gotta do some Black Mage work?" the redhead inquires.

"I suppose. Oh! Are you here for a briefing? Maybe we will be going together!" Xion cries excitedly.

Missions are always better when she has one with Roxas or Axel. However, because Roxas is pretty good at black magic on his own and because Axel can use Ninjutsu, also known as ninja magic, they aren't paired with her much.

Everyone at the Academy is given a Job, sometimes Jobs, based off of their natural skills and abilities. They are observed for a while then the Masters and Headmasters give them their Job classification which will be their area of expertise and what they will mainly study until they take their Mark of Mastery Exam and graduate. Sometimes individuals are given other Jobs but it doesn't derive too far from their original Job.

Xion is dubbed a Black Mage, a being that can conjure all forms of black magic, which means if a party already has an individual that can cast black magic, she will not be needed. Most missions do not require more than one individual with the ability to conjure black magic.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm not here to speak with the Headmaster. I'm just playing hooky and saw you in here and thought I would say 'hi.' And maybe I was going to keep Vanitas from killing you…" Axel confesses and reclines in the chair next to her.

"You do realize you are playing hooky in the lobby outside the Headmaster's office…right?" Xion tries not to flat-out laugh at her old friend.

Axel curses under his breath and leaps to his feet.

"Oh! Hey!" he halts his advance toward the door. "Roxas and I are going to get ice cream in Twilight Town after class today. Think you can meet us there?"

Xion smiles.

"I should be able to. I probably won't be deployed until tomorrow. I will come if I can."

"Alright! See you there! And try to avoid Vanitas!" Axel teases before scurrying out of the lobby.

Xion sighs and blows her black bangs out of her face. Despite popular belief, Xion doubts Vanitas would have actually hurt her. He has never offered to before…

"Xion," the receptionist calls and snaps Xion out of her musings.

"The Headmaster is ready to see you now," she smiles and motions to the door.

Xion picks up her books and enters the office where Master Eraqus waits. She straightens her uniform; her ruby tie, white blouse, and black dress before she knocks.

"Enter," the Master calls and Xion takes a deep breath before walking in.

"Good afternoon, Master Eraqus." she bows.

"Good afternoon, Xion." The Headmaster rises from his seat to greet her. "Please, sit." He motions to the large seat coated in maroon leather beyond his massive, mahogany desk.

Nodding, the black-haired girl sits in the seat. The thick leather groans and protests under her weight.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice. Normally, I would inform you of the mission at least a week in advance but certain developments have forced me to break the respectable protocol," the Headmaster apologizes and takes a seat in his massive chair, but not before he runs a hand down his face.

Master Eraqus looks frazzled. The argument with Vanitas clearly put him on edge and took a lot out of him. He is still very stoic and composed but Xion knows he isn't at his finest. He looks like he was expecting Vanitas to snap right in his office and destroy anything and everything within a hundred mile radius. Even the Headmaster thinks he will just snap and go ballistic at any moment.

"It is fine, Headmaster Eraqus. It is no trouble. I understand." Xion bobs her head in respect.

Eraqus nods.

"We have received reports of Nobodies in the area around Radiant Garden. We will send Naminé and Riku to Radiant Garden with you to investigate and eliminate the threat," the Headmaster all but commands.

Xion isn't surprised that they will be joining her. It is a typical party; an individual to heal, an individual to use magic based attacks, and an individual to use physical attacks.

"You will leave first thing in the morning. We shall provide transportation. Be at the entrance at sunrise," the Master instructs emotionlessly.

"Yes, Master," Xion replies before standing and bowing farewell to the Headmaster.

The sun is setting over Twilight Town, but then again, the sun is always setting in Twilight Town. Everything has a beautiful, warm, cozy, and peaceful feel to it. Everything contains calming hues of orange, gold, and red. Xion likes being here with Roxas and Axel again. It almost feels like old times. It has been so long since they have been here...

"Do you think Xion's mission has anything to do with Xemnas?" Axel reluctantly asks after taking a chunk out of his ice cream bar.

"Probably," Roxas replies honestly. "What do you think, Xion?"

She shrugs. She doesn't want this to be related to Xemnas but she knows it probably is.

Xemnas was their old Headmaster when they went to Twilight Town's School of Mastery. But that was before the other Mastery Academies found out he was collaborating with Master Xehanort.

No one was surprised to learn of his treachery. After all, Xehanort is his father, which was why the investigation was conducted at Twilight Town's Academy. Upon investigating they realized all their missions were dubious, unethical and were secretly helping Master Xehanort.

As former students of Twilight Town's School of Mastery, Xion, Roxas, and Axel were all guilty of aiding Xehanort and his calamitous cause through Xemnas.

How were they supposed to know that Xemnas was sending them on missions that could potentially lead to war and destruction?

They were taught to trust that man so they did, everyone in that school did. Call it an orphan complex…

Mastery Academies are a sort of new age orphanage, which made the school itself like a mother and the school's Headmaster like a father and everyone gets a while school full of brothers and sisters. It's an orphans dream come true. It was Xion's dream come true. The Academy gave her purpose, structure, a place to live, and a future, when she wouldn't have obtained those things otherwise.

When something offers an orphan a chance to make something of themselves, they go for it, no questions asked. That is what the Mastery Academies do; they give people like her, Axel, and Roxas a chance to start over, to become something greater, to see the world, to protect the things that matter, to obtain new dreams… Of course, their main goal was to create an élite, diverse mercenary force to complete missions that will help them prepare for the ultimate goal of protecting the balance and preventing war. Xion assumes that would also mean fighting in a war that threatened to destroy the balance but a war hadn't occurred in her seventeen years so she merely went on missions, that's what they all did.

"Roxas, would you do something like that for your brothers?" Xion asks out of the blue.

Roxas reels.

"Huh?"

Xion giggles. "Would you help your brothers? You know, the way Xemnas is helping Xehanort? Doing it because they are blood."

"Gosh, Xion, I would hardly call them my brothers…" Roxas nervously scratches the back of his neck.

It is true. They hardly qualify as his brothers. They didn't even know one another until recently. Almost all of them were taken in by different Mastery Academies after they were orphaned.

Roxas and Ventus have told Xion that they have no memory of their lives together. Roxas was sent to Twilight Town's School of Mastery, Sora was sent to Yen Sid's Mastery School, and Ventus and Vanitas were sent to The Land of Departure's Mastery Academy…after they were Master Xehanort's students… Technically, Ventus and Vanitas were from the Radiant Garden Institution of Mastery…

Ventus and Vanitas were the only ones kept together and oddly enough they seemed to loathe each other the most. Xion never understood why they were kept together and the others weren't.

All four hadn't been reunited for very long. When Yen Sid retired, he sent Sora, Riku, and Kairi to The Land of Departure and when Xemnas was found out Xion, Axel, and Roxas were also sent there.

Once they were all in the same educational institution, it was confirmed that they were brothers, which wasn't a complete surprise considering how Roxas and Ventus were almost identical. However, the boys weren't that excited about the news. They took it in stride and Xion can't wrap her mind around that. She would be ecstatic to regain a family member. She is sure she wouldn't be that passive. It was almost like they didn't know what to do with one another.

"I know… I just wondered what that felt like. You know, to have that kind of bond with someone…" Xion raves aloud with a shrug.

"If you wanted a big brother all you had to do was ask!" Axel teases and nudges Roxas, causing Roxas to nudge her.

"I didn't say that!" she shrugs off the shoves and taunting. "I was just thinking that it might be nice to have family around."

"I guess it's nice. And I suppose I would help them because they are my blood but I wouldn't do anything crazy or flat-out wrong for them. Besides, I don't really talk to them much…so it's mainly just awkward. We are all set in our ways. We were all raised differently so we kinda missed out on the whole sibling bonding thing by the time we met each other again…"

"Yeah. I see what you mean. You and Ven are practically identical but even you two are very different." Xion concurs as she finishes up her ice cream.

It took her a long time to get use to seeing someone else with Roxas' face. It was crazy enough learning Roxas had brothers, much less one that was his identical twin.

"Speaking of Ventus…" Axel smirks and Xion cringes.

Here it comes…

"Are you two a thing or what?" he finishes and Xion's grimace grows.

"Not…officially…"

That was a complicated situation, one she wasn't really comfortable discussing with Axel and Roxas. She loves them and she could talk to them about almost anything, key word being almost. Her love life is the only thing she considers off-limits and she is sure the feeling is mutual.

Also, the fact that the guy in question is Roxas' twin brother makes this even more awkward. It took her forever to get use to the fact that they looked so much alike and even longer for her to see them as two completely different people. Which brings this back to the awkward area, Ven looks a lot like one of her best friends who she only sees as a brother.

She supposes that is why she has a bit of a mental block when it comes to Ventus, but she was getting over it and she was starting to like him…

"What do you mean 'not officially'?" Axel probes and leans so far forward he almost falls off the clock tower.

"This is awkward," Xion grumbles and desperately hopes he will take the hint.

"You've went on a few dates, right?" Roxas chimes in.

Xion hates when they gang up on her like this.

"Awkward!" she repeats and covers her ears.

"Fine!" Axel relents and falls backwards to recline. "But I better not be the last to find out when it is official."

Axel could be a touch protective. Big brother syndrome she supposes.

Roxas grins at Axel and tries his best not to laugh.

"Okay. I will be sure to let you know if things get serious." Xion shakes her head.

"Damn right you will," Axel scoffs. "You have to seek our approval first."

"Says who?" Xion counters and glares over Roxas' shoulder at the redhead.

"Says me!"

"You're impossible," Xion huffs as she stands to leave.

"Whoa! Hey! Don't leave us behind!" Roxas calls before attempting to chase after her.

Axel groans when he realizes he will have to get up to follow them. He was just getting comfortable too…

Xion tries her best not to yawn in front of the man who has hired them, she really does, but she is so tired it is impossible to contain it.

She lifts her hand and does her best to hide the fact that she is yawning.

It was all Axel's fault. She had lost track of time in Twilight Town, which was easy to do considering the area experienced perpetual sundown. To make matters worse, once they returned to The Land of Departure, Axel and Roxas followed her back to her dorm room, which is completely against Academy rules, but that didn't stop them. If it weren't for Naminé, her roommate, she is sure they wouldn't have left until five that morning and she had to be up at five thirty!

Oh well, it doesn't matter now. She managed to get a few hours of sleep anyway.

DiZ, the man from Radiant Garden who has requested their services, explains the situation to them. He almost sounds like a Headmaster and this shouldn't surprise her, the man used to work at a Mastery Academy. He used to be an Academy administrator before Radiant Garden's Institution of Mastery was dissolved. DiZ worked with Master Xehanort, the terminated Academy's former Headmaster, before he went off the deep end…

"They have all been seen in the woods. They are not close to town…yet, but I fear that is inevitable unless they are disposed of now," DiZ explains as he places his elbows on his desk and laces his fingers under his chin.

"Right. We will do all we can," Riku says professionally and stoically before bowing to the elder.

Xion and Naminé follow suit and bow as well.

"Thank you. You are dismissed. Come back here when you complete your task or if there is any trouble," DiZ continues before waving his hand for them to disperse.

"Yes, sir," the Academy students call in unison before they exit DiZ's study and journey back into town.

Radiant Garden is lovely. Xion always enjoys missions in this area. It is just so calm and quant. If she wasn't on a mission she would enjoy staying and relaxing for a while, but she is on a mission and she is in full Black Mage garb so she has to behave herself. She is representing their guild now. Everyone that will see her will know she is from one of the Mastery Academies and with all the corruption within these institutions lately, she can't afford to tarnish their image anymore.

Xion finds herself envious of Riku and Namine's Job uniforms. They aren't nearly as decked out as she is. One of the drawbacks of her Job she supposes.

While Naminé merely wears her short, fitted white robes lined in angular, red trim classifying her as a White Mage, Xion has to wear tight, thick tunics and the signature Black Mage hat, which looks a lot like a witch hat.

Granted, her robes aren't as bad as the traditional robes were years ago. Modern adjustments have been made and she was able to wear shorter, sleeveless tunics in warmer weather, but she still has to wear bell sleeves just below shoulders and really high boots so it doesn't really matter. She is still covered head to toe in clothing and ornaments.

No surprise that the majority of her attire is black so it doesn't repel heat much, but her hat is purple and her boots and bell sleeves are also outlined in purple so she isn't completely morbid.

Garment wise, Riku has it the easiest. He simply wears a little bit of armor over some regular clothes and boom, people instantly know he is a Warrior. However, Xion has also seen Riku in his Dark Knight apparel, which makes her ornate Black Mage garb look simple. Dark Knights wear black armor, lots of it, and a heavy helmet is usually included. But Riku is in luck today, DiZ didn't want a Dark Knight, he just wanted a Warrior.

Truthfully, Xion can tell that Master Eraqus is reluctant to deploy and train Dark Knights in general, but the other educational institutions around the world outvoted him, it is seen as a sort of fight fire with fire technique or maybe a fight darkness with darkness technique...

Once upon a time they were against Black Mages too because it was considered a dark art, but here she is and it is viewed as normal now. Maybe with time Riku's second Job won't be regarded as taboo either.

"Did he give any specifics on where the Nobodies were spotted?" Naminé asks Riku politely.

"Nope. He just said they were in the woods…somewhere," he replies stoically.

Xion whimpers inwardly. This will probably take forever. The woods are huge so this will probably be a wild goose chase. She would rather stay in town a bit longer. It is so nice outside and she hasn't had a chance to see all the fountains and gardens yet but she isn't here to observe such things, she is here to save this community from a Nobody threat. A threat that was likely caused by her former Headmaster…

That never gets any easier to swallow.

For a long time, the trio investigates the woods and only found a few Nobodies. Xion is disappointed. She wanted more action than this. There are only standard Nobodies in these woods, nothing but Dusks.

When Aqua said it wasn't going to be anything grueling, Xion wasn't thinking she meant boring. Xion is pretty sure she and Naminé could have handled this alone. Hell, Xion is pretty sure she could have done this alone. It is a minor infestation to say the least.

"How bored are you?" Xion playfully asks the silver-haired Warrior after he disposes of another Dusk she froze with Blizzard for him.

Riku smirks. "Do you want me to be honest or nice?"

"Honest." she chuckles into her hand.

Before Riku can reply, Naminé interrupts him.

"Xion! Look out!"

Xion's blue eyes widen and she turns to face the Dusk, only it isn't a Dusk. It is the largest Nobody she has ever seen. It towers above the trees and looms over them as if they are bugs to be squashed.

It hardly registers how huge this thing is and it really doesn't register as to how this massive thing managed to get the jump on them, but that is how Nobodies and Heartless work. One moment they aren't there, the next they are.

It is a Twilight Thorn, probably the largest Nobody in existence. Its body defies biology and physics. Its shoulders and feet come to sharp points and they almost imitate the Nobody insignia while its head is probably the smallest part of the colossus.

The Nobody's massive, white claw plummets from the sky to crush her and she doesn't have a chance to react. It is all happening too fast and it is much too close to her.

Xion hears Naminé cast a Protect spell on her form and she instinctively casts Firaga knowing it will do little to no good long before it ever connects with the Nobody's palm.

The Twilight Thorn merely flinches but still swats her across the woodland as if she were a fly. The Protect spell and her Fire only kept the initial blow from killing her but as she helplessly flies through the air she is pretty sure whatever she collides with will kill her.

Xion is ripped apart by terrain, blanches, limbs, and tree bark as she flails through the air and tries to regain control of her body.

The young Black Mage wishes she were a bird or anything with wings. It would make this a lot easier to manage.

She claws at air, hoping to get a hold of anything that will slow her down. She twists and turns through the air and tries to do something, anything that might help her get footing on the illusive ground, but she is starting to think the ground doesn't exist anymore.

Her back hits a massive oak tree and all the air leaves her lungs. She is pretty sure her entire vertebral column is shattered. She probably won't ever be able to walk again.

Xion crumples to the ground and she feels herself slipping. Into what she doesn't know, she just knows she is falling. Again.

With the last of her strength, she manages to grab the tree root nearest to her and tries to hoist herself back onto stable ground. Her strength fails her as consciousness quickly starts to fade. Everything blurs and she isn't sure what she is holding onto and why, so she lets go.

Xion is falling again. She is pretty sure she is rolling down a steep hill of sticks and thorns before the sound of rushing water invades her ears.

Before she can fully recognize the sound, she is smothered by cool, rushing water. She can't breath and she can barely see. Everything is blurred and murky. Then, all at once, something sharp and hard crashes into the back of her head and her whole world goes black.

A/N: Thanks so much for reading!

So I have managed to make another Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy (mainly Final Fantasy VIII) hybrid! Woo! So this one is a Xion and Vanitas story. In my opinion, I do not think that there are enough Vanitas and Xion stories floating around out there so I am doing my part and contributing! If you guys like it, I will continue to work on this, and I'll try to make a longer chapter with more Vanitas' point of view in it.

Anyway! I hope you enjoyed the introduction chapter, reviews are ALWAYS appreciated, and thanks again for reading!